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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>Now, I'm all for
the switch to GPLv3 only for dnsmasq. The only argument I've seen here
against it is a rather specious "My company has forbidden use of GPLv3 in our
codebase" with strong implication "because we intend to
TIVOize".</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><SPAN class=283043204-13092007>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The companies concerned (e.g. TiVo
and others) are trying to build cool innovative products without having
to turn over their firstborn to Microsoft. The second problem is that
the coole<SPAN class=283043204-13092007>r</SPAN> products require the
co-operation of one or more<SPAN
class=283043204-13092007> other</SPAN><SPAN class=283043204-13092007>
(</SPAN>unenlightened<SPAN class=283043204-13092007>)</SPAN> industry, be it
broadcasters, cellular carriers, or <SPAN class=283043204-13092007>the
like</SPAN>. They have some pretty stiff requirements of device manufacturers
that are not negotiable. You either play by their rules, or not at
all.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Carriers are extremely protective of their infrastructure,
and are extremely sensitive to any 'modification' of a
device's behavior that might disturb the smooth running of that
infrastucture. They see any 'user modification' of devices using their
infrastructure as a potential source of network disruption at worst, and
inefficient consumption of a scarse resource at best. That's the thinking that
drives every major carrier to insist on doing their own 4-6 month
certification cycles on products that have already been through certification
for compliance with the cellular technology standards.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Content owners are the worst (the major Hollywood studios in particular).
It may show as DRM-infested consumer devices, but believe me, those of us
building the devices hate the stuff as much as you do. Perhaps more, we have to
waste effort implementing the stuff as well and suffer the end result. Companies
like Direct TV don't have a business if they can't get content that users want
to watch. The content owners attach a whole string of obnoxious constraints to
it, including 'protection' requirements to 'prevent piracy'. Broadcasters are
concerned about theft of service and not falling foul of the nasty agreements
they have to accept to get desirable content in the first place. Without that,
you end up with products like Akimbo (no disrespect to the Akimbo guys, I feel
their pain...)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>It's
regrettable that TiVo has been characterised as the bad guy in all this. They're
in a position of wanting to do the right thing, but not having the option,
because of constraints dictated by the broadcasters (in no small part being
dictated by the content owners in turn).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I must
admit it's a little painful for those of us trying to champion the open source
cause from within the consumer electronics industry to be portrayed as the
villain. The true villains are the same people who tried to outlaw the VCR,
thought DiVX players were a pretty neat idea, and think charging $1 a minute for
a cellphone call across the atlantic is reasonable when a landline call costs 5c
a minute or less.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Another aspect not everyone may be aware of is that it's not uncommon for
companies (at least the one's I'm familiar with) to ask their employees to
make contributions back to the community under their own name, and not
attributed to the company. Simply because they don't want to telegraph their
plans to others. In other cases, a larger company may fund work done by Monta
Vista, Wind River, and similar companies to be contributed back to the
community. It's a double-edged sword - you don't tip your hand, but your company
doesn't get credit in the community for its contributions
either.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><SPAN class=283043204-13092007>
<DIV><SPAN class=283043204-13092007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
really don't want to participate a flame war. I read and generally
understand other people's perspectives, and respect that they have a right to
see things differently. I'd appreciate if the same courtesy were extended to me,
but hey, I've no right or privilege to request or expect
that.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=283043204-13092007> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>I mean no
disrespect to you, Richard. I'm just trying to explain the tricky balancing act
that goes on, which might not be so obvious from outside. The perspective you
and others have offered is no less valid<SPAN
class=283043204-13092007>. </SPAN><SPAN
class=283043204-13092007> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=283043204-13092007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT><FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=283043204-13092007>--
Paul </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>