Asus Eee PC violates Linux GPL? - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 26th Nov 2007, 12:39

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/11...s_linux_gpl_/1

Apparently Asus may have violated the Linux GPL with the immensely popular Eee PC by not releasing part of the source code for one of the kernel modules.

steveo_mcg · 26th Nov 2007, 13:42

I was reading about this yesterday, from what i seen on the web their 1.8gig source download doesn't include a couple of parts that they have modified. I think the most important bit being asus_acpi which means your effectively tied to the supplied kernel until either it is reverse engineered or asus release the changes. I'm hoping its a matter of incompetence over malice and it will be resolved in due course, it would be a shame if it came to a law suite. I don't think Linux needs any bad publicity amongst the great unwashed/white box shifters just as it starts to make in roads.

proxess · 26th Nov 2007, 14:01

I already got my early christmas present running ubuntu so no problems there ^^
a centrino duo t5500, 2gb ram, ati x2300, 120gb disc. Asus Z53j (I think its a regional version of F3).

DXR_13KE · 26th Nov 2007, 14:24

"That said, most Eee PC owners probably don't care - the entire point of the laptop is that it is focused at low-end users and those who want something which is simple and easy to use."

i consider my self an advanced user and i would definatly would buy this laptop.... it is light, cheap and small, and has enough power in it for lots of stuff.
if i got one i would install ubuntu in a flash.... but it seams i cant..... i will just wait for one that i can put the OS i want an that has a black color instead of white....

Greenie · 26th Nov 2007, 15:26

the original article is here: http://cliffhacks.blogspot.com/2007/...s-and-gpl.html

i doubt its something asus have done just to keep things closed, or so that it takes more effort to install whatever OS you please. They probably just forgot to include the modified source. I am sure we will see it appear in the next few weeks, because to adhere to the GPLv2 they will have to distribute the source, unless the authors of the current closed software have signed the rights over to asus

DXR_13KE: you can install ubuntu on it, the cliffhacks page also has a tutorial to do that, recompiling the kernel using the modified asus_acpi to provide proper power management and after that, ndiswrapper to sort out the wireless.

Woodstock · 26th Nov 2007, 17:42

i thought asus_acpi was intgrated into the standard kernel, is it just the dsdt for this particular model

Tyinsar · 26th Nov 2007, 18:00

This laptop could provide a nice push for Linux and I'm torn between the violation of GPL and the thought that enforcing the GPL might cause Asus to stop making these (if they intentionally violated GPL). If Asus releases the source then all is well.

IanW · 26th Nov 2007, 18:05

DXR_13KE: The Eee is available in black if you shop around.

Phil Rhodes · 26th Nov 2007, 19:28

ACPI is by far the trickiest thing to get working on Linux laptops - frankly, unless you happen to have exactly the same hardware as an expert in the field, and you can get it installed and set up right (often no small task under PenguinOS, it's worth remembering) you will generally be out of luck. I have never seen any laptop other than an IBM Thinkpad correctly sleep or hibernate under Linux and that makes it effectively unusable for laptops in general.

This is therefore a fairly turnkey piece of software and, while I hesitate to assume that anyone's acting maliciously, it wouldn't be surprising to find that someone considered it sensitive.

Phil

completemadness · 26th Nov 2007, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rhodes

I have never seen any laptop other than an IBM Thinkpad correctly sleep or hibernate under Linux and that makes it effectively unusable for laptops in general.

I dont know what youve been looking at, but at university i have seen dozens of laptops of all kinds that have functioned correctly (sleep and hibernate)

Hell i put ubuntu on a dell laptop and it worked perfectly ....

specofdust · 26th Nov 2007, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanW

DXR_13KE: The Eee is available in black if you shop around.

The term "available" has to be used very loosely. Very few shops have them in, and those that do are all charging Ebay prices (i.e. - £50 more than it's worth). Given that Asus is selling every one of these things that it's making, I'm sure they're not worried about having to correct this mistake, or even about not correcting it and just dealing with the lawsuit.

The_Beast · 26th Nov 2007, 22:13

I want one, I really don't care as long as I connect to the Internet and open Word documents I'm just fine with it

Techno-Dann · 27th Nov 2007, 08:52

Issue resolved: ASUS released the source for the module. Engadget has a few details, along with a link to the downloads.

Tyinsar · 27th Nov 2007, 16:42

Thank you Asus.

26th Nov 2007, 12:39	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,940	Asus Eee PC violates Linux GPL? http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/11...s_linux_gpl_/1 Apparently Asus may have violated the Linux GPL with the immensely popular Eee PC by not releasing part of the source code for one of the kernel modules. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

26th Nov 2007, 13:42	#2
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,975	I was reading about this yesterday, from what i seen on the web their 1.8gig source download doesn't include a couple of parts that they have modified. I think the most important bit being asus_acpi which means your effectively tied to the supplied kernel until either it is reverse engineered or asus release the changes. I'm hoping its a matter of incompetence over malice and it will be resolved in due course, it would be a shame if it came to a law suite. I don't think Linux needs any bad publicity amongst the great unwashed/white box shifters just as it starts to make in roads. __________________ No boom today, boom tomorrow... there's always a boom tomorrow.

26th Nov 2007, 14:01	#3
proxess Victim of AdvancedModernCapitalism Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The town of Love, Funchal Posts: 597	I already got my early christmas present running ubuntu so no problems there ^^ a centrino duo t5500, 2gb ram, ati x2300, 120gb disc. Asus Z53j (I think its a regional version of F3). __________________ Netbook: Asus eeePC 901; 12Gb SDD; Custom Ubuntu 9.04 Minimal Compiz Standalone. Laptop: Intel Centrino Duo T5500 1.66ghz; 2048mb RAM; ATI Mobility Radeon x2300; Hitachi 120gb iPod Classic 120GB; Maxtor 160GB External; Ubuntu 9.10 x64 and Windows 7 x64.

26th Nov 2007, 14:24	#4
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,461	"That said, most Eee PC owners probably don't care - the entire point of the laptop is that it is focused at low-end users and those who want something which is simple and easy to use." i consider my self an advanced user and i would definatly would buy this laptop.... it is light, cheap and small, and has enough power in it for lots of stuff. if i got one i would install ubuntu in a flash.... but it seams i cant..... i will just wait for one that i can put the OS i want an that has a black color instead of white.... __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

26th Nov 2007, 17:42	#6
Woodstock So Say We All Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,657	i thought asus_acpi was intgrated into the standard kernel, is it just the dsdt for this particular model __________________ Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun.

26th Nov 2007, 15:26	#5
Greenie Minimodder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Sussex, England Posts: 30	the original article is here: http://cliffhacks.blogspot.com/2007/...s-and-gpl.html i doubt its something asus have done just to keep things closed, or so that it takes more effort to install whatever OS you please. They probably just forgot to include the modified source. I am sure we will see it appear in the next few weeks, because to adhere to the GPLv2 they will have to distribute the source, unless the authors of the current closed software have signed the rights over to asus DXR_13KE: you can install ubuntu on it, the cliffhacks page also has a tutorial to do that, recompiling the kernel using the modified asus_acpi to provide proper power management and after that, ndiswrapper to sort out the wireless.

26th Nov 2007, 18:00	#7
Tyinsar 6 screens / 1 card Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: AB.CA Posts: 2,005	This laptop could provide a nice push for Linux and I'm torn between the violation of GPL and the thought that enforcing the GPL might cause Asus to stop making these (if they intentionally violated GPL). If Asus releases the source then all is well. __________________ It's not about how life treats you, it's about how you treat life.

26th Nov 2007, 18:05	#8
IanW I am a Dremel Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: N.Wales Posts: 1,605	DXR_13KE: The Eee is available in black if you shop around. __________________ Q6600@3GHz / AC Freezer 7 Pro / Gigabyte EP35-DS3R / 8GB OCZ Platinum PC6400 / EVGA GTX260 SSC / LG DVDR / 9TB HDD / OCZ Modstream 780W / CoolerMaster 590 case / Dell E248WFP / Saitek Eclipse II / Logitech G9 / Ubuntu 9.10-64

26th Nov 2007, 19:28	#9
Phil Rhodes Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 574	ACPI is by far the trickiest thing to get working on Linux laptops - frankly, unless you happen to have exactly the same hardware as an expert in the field, and you can get it installed and set up right (often no small task under PenguinOS, it's worth remembering) you will generally be out of luck. I have never seen any laptop other than an IBM Thinkpad correctly sleep or hibernate under Linux and that makes it effectively unusable for laptops in general. This is therefore a fairly turnkey piece of software and, while I hesitate to assume that anyone's acting maliciously, it wouldn't be surprising to find that someone considered it sensitive. Phil

26th Nov 2007, 22:13	#12
The_Beast I am The Stig Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,212	I want one, I really don't care as long as I connect to the Internet and open Word documents I'm just fine with it __________________ Rendering Machine - Gigabyte DS3L P35 - C2Q Q6600 - Antec New Solution Series NSK4480B - Corsair XMS2 2Gb - Sapphire 2600 XT 256mb - Seagate 'Cuda 320 GB - Antec Earthwatt 430 watt - Windows XP Pro -

27th Nov 2007, 08:52	#13
Techno-Dann Disgruntled kumquat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pullman WA, USA Posts: 1,570	Issue resolved: ASUS released the source for the module. Engadget has a few details, along with a link to the downloads. __________________ The intellitxt demon fell dead, Sir Tim's lance embedded in its heart. The fair land of Bit-Tech was free from its influence once more. And there was much rejoicing. Last edited by Techno-Dann; 27th Nov 2007 at 08:52. Reason: Changed HTML to BBcode... Been writing too much HTML lately.

27th Nov 2007, 16:42	#14
Tyinsar 6 screens / 1 card Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: AB.CA Posts: 2,005	Thank you Asus. __________________ It's not about how life treats you, it's about how you treat life.