Re: [linux-audio-dev] Re: 4D-NXs (was Re: Sync Issues)

[Dan Hollis]

On Thu, 28 Oct 1999, Joe Miklojcik wrote:
> > >       * "we think our hardware's proprietary secrets will be revealed
> > >          if there is a source code driver"
> > Uh, isnt this what patents are for? If someone reverse engineers their
> > card, they are *completely screwed* unless they have patent protection.
> Shhh :)  They haven't figured that out yet.  It's the only thing saving us
> on a lot of the hardware Linux supports.  I'm not a lawyer, but I think that
> they can deny the right to reverse engineer in a user license, which would
> make some drivers illegal.

So you reverse engineer them in a country where such shrinkwrap licenses
themselves are illegal. Isnt this most of europe? :)

Isnt there some precedent law in the US which basically says such licenses
are unenforceable?

-Dan