New ATI Driver - they can't

[Dexter Filmore]

> > Umm, they actually can't. The OpenGL implementation in (at least) NVidia
> > cards are intellectual property bought from SGI. But not only NV (and
> > possibly ATi) bought rights that, so did Microsoft.
> > So to provide open src drivers NV (+ATi?) would have to give away code to
> > NDA IP. Not gonna happen.
>
> Really?  So it would be a violation of some IP agreement for them to go to
> SGI and tell them what they're trying to do, or it would be an infringement
> for them to release all but the OpenGL implementation, or it would be an
> infringement for them to put out a press release informing the Free
> Software community that they will back off of their previous positions and
> not take legal action against those trying to roll their own drivers?  I
> doubt it.

It would be an infringement to document a patent protected piece of hardware 
by revealing what makes it tick in a open source driver.
Totally would.


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