Re:Open source Mali GPU drivers merged
by grw_ on Tuesday May 14, 2019 @09:54AM
(#19909438)
I forget where I read this, but I recall that due to patent situation it's practically impossible to build a GPU without infringing on some patent or another. By keeping drivers closed source it's possible to maintain deniability- if ARM released open source GPU drivers it would be trivial for rights-holders to look at the implementation and see what they can sue for. It's not impossible to do this with blob drivers, but harder.
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I don't buy this. See: AMD and Intel both have open source drivers.
I'm not sure what there is to buy. Just because AMD or Intel managed to do this doesn't mean it's any easier or cheaper for nVidia or Arm. AMD actually has been sued before over this kind of thing. Why not just save yourself the trouble and effort of making an entirely legal and safe open source implementation when you can just keep trucking with closed source?
Maybe they are the aforementioned rights-holders :)
Nvidia's closed source kernel driver (and others) might be found illegal in court if a Linux rights holder bothered to sue. But unfortunately there is no one interested and rich enough to do it.