Luis Chamberlain sent out the modules changes today for the Linux 6.6 merge window. Most notable with the modules update is a change that better builds up the defenses against NVIDIA’s proprietary kernel driver from using GPL-only symbols. Or in other words, bits that only true open-source drivers should be utilizing and not proprietary kernel drivers like NVIDIA’s default Linux driver in respecting the original kernel code author’s intent.

Back in 2020 when the original defense was added, NVIDIA recommended avoiding the Linux 5.9 for the time being. They ended up having a supported driver several weeks later. It will be interesting to see this time how long Linux 6.6+ thwarts their kernel driver.

  • UltraFiestaMango@lemmy.mlEnglish
    21·
    1 year ago

    But why is it a problem if they call on parts of the kernal they shouldn’t? is it just a privacy concern, does it also impact performance? i don’t understand

    • cobra89@beehaw.org
      7·
      1 year ago

      Because the license for the patents that the Linux kernel is utilizing says that the code utilizing those patents must be open source. So therefore Nvidia is accessing those parts of the kernel illegally and against the license the Linux Foundation has. The Linux Foundation could lose the rights to use those patents if they’re not respecting the license.

    • priapus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      1 year ago

      As the commenter stated, it is a copyright issue. Nvidia is not allowed to use this code in a proprietary driver.

        • webghost0101@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          3·
          1 year ago

          If they want to use that code legally they should make their code GPL but i doubt there proprietary code gets automatically overrules. I wish it did.

          I do wonder what would happen if someone would hack and leak Nvidia’s code under the defense that they thought Nvidia to be operating legally therefor assuming there code is GPL, I presume Nvidia would need to officially confess their crime as a legal defense that they never ment to open source their own code.

          • wim@lemmy.sdf.org
            4·
            1 year ago

            Free Software Foundation, Inc. Vs Cisco Systems Inc. disagrees. The FSF sued Linksys for violating the license for GCC, libc etc.

            And they were forced in court to release all their WRT stuff under GPL, which is how OpenWRT got its start.

            • webghost0101@sopuli.xyzEnglish
              2·
              1 year ago

              Just the idea of nvidia being forced to open source there drivers makes me drool in sweet winners justice.

              But realistically, Nvidia feels like one of the more powerful corporations around do we stand a chance? I do hope FSF tries regardless.

              • wim@lemmy.sdf.org
                2·
                1 year ago

                Linksys was part of Cisco. They had veryy deep pockets, but the FSF & SFC prevailed regardless.

                I doubt the FSF or SFC will go after Nvidia, this has been a long standing issue and I haven’t heard about any lawsuits being brought because of it, even before Nvidia had more money than God.

      • planish@sh.itjust.works
        01·
        1 year ago

        I don’t see how the copyright mechanism works here. The GPL has rules about linking to GPL code, enforced by the notion that the linked binary is a protected derivative work. Going and finding out where in memory some functions are and jumping to them is not going to create a derivative work.

        The Linux devs just have a rule about who they want to call these symbols and are trying to enforce it themselves.

      • ahornsirup@artemis.camp
        04·
        1 year ago

        Which they technically didn’t. I’m sure Nvidia has a legal team that vetted their solution, they certainly have the money for it. At this point the “protection” against the proprietary driver is just anti-consumer.

        • priapus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          4·
          1 year ago

          And I’m sure Nvidia’s legal team knows that Linux is not going to take them to court for this because it isn’t worth it. Nvidia absolutely did violate the GPL, but they have the funds to avoid any legal trouble, hence why Linux goes this other router. I don’t see how this is anti-consumer, it will not significantly effect the consumer. Nvidia will simply have to update their driver like they did when these protections were first implemented.