Re: [fsf-community-team] Free Software, What about Free Hardware?

[Edward Cherlin]

On Thu, Dec 17, 2009 at 12:22, Franz Christopher <address@hidden> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I don't know if I am over-stepping my membership in this list by posting
> something out of the blue, however, I have heard a great deal about Free
> Software, but I have yet to hear about Free Hardware. Is there such a thing?

Yes. There are numerous hardware projects using some variation of a
Free License, where documents such as CAD drawing files and electronic
parts specifications are provided for making parts and putting
assemblies together. The Simputer is the first I was aware of, and I
have heard of others, including computers, phones, and routers. Try
Google, or ask me again after New Year's.

> Thinking about it makes me think that hardware manufacturers would stand to
> benefit from Free Hardware, imagine, the hardware manufacturer makes the
> device and the firmware is free to be run for any purpose, free to be
> studied and modified, free to be improved upon and free to be redistributed.

Open OSes for unlocked phones (use with any service, download Free
Software applications without restriction) have been an area of much
activity.

> For instance, imagine a Portable Media Player (it can even be called an
> P-MPFree, jk) that comes with the freedom to be modified to best suit my
> needs.
>
> This is something I would purchase in a heartbeat
>
> Is this something that might happen?
> Where can I find more information regarding this topic?
> Does this sort of thing infringe upon the GNU/GPL in any way?
> I am no hardware expert, is this sort of thing feasible?
>
> Best Regards
> Franz / LegionZero
>
> War cannot be avoided until the physical cause
> for its recurrence is removed and this, in the last analysis,
> is the vast extent of the planet on which we live. ~ Nikola Tesla

-- 
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://www.earthtreasury.org/