Re: Niches for the Hurd: evaluation method; was: DRM musings, capabilities and stuff

[Arne Babenhauserheide]

Am Montag 08 Dezember 2008 13:37:14 schrieb Michal Suchanek:
> However, a non-free application may require certain known version of
> the otherwise free system (and driver for hardware cryptographic
> device) to run or allow access to protected content.

This would mean that I as user could use the system only for a subset of the 
things the verifier could use it (even though that usage may only be added 
later), so that would be a severe usage restriction and very likely a GPLv3 
violation if the driver were part of the GPLv3 system. 

If it isn't part of the operating system, I can replace it with a driver of my 
choice without disturbing my OS. 

Naturally you could ship a system which has an unfree driver which is 
restricted to verified versions by the TPM (only verified unfree drivers could 
access the TPM). 

That driver could however never link against any GPLv3 component, and no GPLv3 
program could be restricted by it without violating the GPLv3. 

Best wishes, 
Arne
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