Re: Runs with Linux (tm)

[Jesse Barnes]

On Wednesday, December 7, 2005 10:13 am, Randy.Dunlap wrote:
> > This is something I've wanted to see for years now.  Linux
> > distributions do not have the motivation to work out the hardware
> > certification issues on the community level, as it interferes with
> > their value add of branding. I have always wished that when I see
> > hardware advertising Linux support that it has a meaning: open
> > source, supportable drivers.  Maybe it's time to get such a project
> > moving.
>
> Yes, the problem afaict is the "works with Linux(notm)" crowd,
> e.g., those companies who see ndiswrapper as a way to say
> "works with Linux."  I don't see how the Runs with Linux(tm)
> org can keep them from saying "works with Linux" and confusing
> uses with that, but IANAL.  Maybe "Linux native support" or
> some such words could be used to mean your "open source,
> supportable drivers."

I think it's pretty clear that the brand would have to entail a very 
specific meaning, like "drivers for this device are open source and in 
the upstream kernel" or somesuch.  Anything else would dilute the 
meaning of a penguin sticker (or whatever it is) so much as to be 
useless I think, as you point out.

Now, who's in a position to make this happen?  Maybe Linux International?  
(I think Maddog mentioned something like this at a Kernel Summit a few 
years ago.)

Jesse
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