> let me clarify the situation. there are a couple of different > questions regarding this: > > 1. is the firmware binary is a program or a data? > 2. can we force the h/w vendor to show the source code under GPL (if > exists) in practice? > 3. if not, shouldn't we change the license to the non-restrictive one? > which license would be feasible? > > so far, alsa-firmware package is released from the understanding of 1 > as "data". but if someone insists it as program, yes, it can be a > problem.
I tend to look at it (very conveniently, of course) as neither. I view it as part of the hardware device we're dealing with. Without it the device does not work. It is distributed as a separate file (inside the driver disk that actually comes with the device) because it is convenient for the manufacturer for updates, avoiding a flash rom in the device, and so on and so forth. Most probably very few people will agree with this viewpoint :-) -- Fernando