Re: The power of the GPL

[Stefan Monnier]

> So what happens if a box maker makes it so the first stage boot loader in
> ROM only loads firmware that is signed by the maker's private key?  That
> would let them use GPL'ed software without opening up the possibility of
> custom firmware.

I think it's a separate issue.  One issue is to get them to publish the code
(an issue of trade secrecy, typically).  Another is the issue of allowing
users to use their product in unintended ways with firmware they didn't
write&(supposedly)test.
It seems this second issue is not too problematic these days.


        Stefan