[ale] The i2o Bus: A Conspiracy Against Free Software? (fwd)

[Geoffrey Myers]

Has anyone heard of this 'i2o' standard.  I checked out the web site mentioned
and it looks for real.  Does anyone see a way around this specification in
order to implement Linux support?  Kinda scary for 'non-members.'  You can
check out a list of the 'member' companies at:

http://www.i2osig.org/Members.html

There's a bunch of them.  Is this for real or a sick joke???

}Forwarded-by: Felix von Leitner <leitner at math.fu-berlin.de>
}
}This was forwarded back and forth about ten times.  I got it from the
}linux-kernel mailing list.  It originated from Bruce Perens, the Debian
}project leader (an important Linux distribution).
}
}-----Forwarded message from bruce at pixar.com-----
}
}Bruce Perens (bruce at pixar.com)
}Wed, 16 Jul 97 11:40 PDT 
}
}
}Check out http://www.i2osig.org/ "i2o" is a developing "non-proprietary"
}standard for high-performance computer peripherals. Unfortunately, it's a
}closed standard, it requires a NDA, and you need a license to develop
}software for it. Their terms are:
}
}        Membership is $5000/year.
}        You can't develop software or hardware for it without being a member.
}        You can't disclose source code for your drivers.
}        You must stop making hardware or software for it if you lose membership
}.
}        Members can vote out other members.
}
}The backers of this are Microsoft, Novell, Hewlet-Packard, and NETFrame.
}It looks as if the i2o agreements are deliberately written to exclude free
}software.
}
}I suspect that if i2o peripherals become popular, free operating systems
}will be locked out from running on PC hardware.
}
}Please take a look at this and give me a reality check.
}
}        Thanks
}
}        Bruce Perens
}        Debian Project Leader
}-----End of forwarded message-----
}
}The joke about it is that apparently, the admins of the ftp.i2osig.org
}FTP server forgot to disable anonymous FTP for a brief period over the
}last weekend, and so a someone found the PDF document with the
}specification there, downloaded it and spread the word.  The ftp server
}has been down since then, always loaded with the maximum user number ;)
}When they finally noticed their problem, they removed the file, but the
}damage was done.
}
}Now people are speculating whether it was a mistake on their side or
}some benevolent admin or company put it there "accidentally" for the
}free software community.
}
}Felix
}
}


-- 
Until later:
Geoffrey Myers   geof at abraxis.com	http://www.abraxis.com/geof

	Opinions expressed by me are mine, all mine, only mine.....