Wolfgang Denk wrote:
I'm only talking about software (code and data) here. If I cannot change (or just rebuild) the (Free!) software any more because to actually run it I need some secret data (like a signature) then this is still a software problem. One that can be prevented by releasing the software under adequate licensing terms.
The mechanism preventing reprogramming of the target device is not part of the software being licensed. So I just don't think it's reasonable for us to prevent the software from being used on such devices, even though I don't particularly like such restrictions either.
This assuming GPLv3 actually does prevent such problems, of course. There seems to be a few loopholes in there, as others have pointed out (though I won't claim to fully understand it, which is another reason I'm not particularly fond of it.)
Agreed. Hardware should be hackable, too :-) (which includes documentation where you don't have to sell your soul and sign NDAs that are plain evil).
Absolutely.
Haavard