documenting devices that require non-free firmware on Linux

[Dmitry Samoyloff]

Karl Goetz wrote:
> On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 23:41:48 -0300
> 
> Felipe Sanches <juca at members.fsf.org> wrote:
> > >> =Where are the non-free firmware images made available?=
> > >> (usually here we would want an url to the manufacturer's firmware
> > >> download webpage)
> > > 
> > > Should we be linking to this? It seems contrary to the guidelines
> > > used for all other projects related to gnu.
> > 
> > yes. I know the guidelines disallow it. But in this specific case, I
> > think that it is important to have this info. Because it can help
> > developers of the free alternatives since access to the non-free
> > firmware is a pre-requisite for reverse engineering it. Also,
> > developers might want to run the driver using the non-free firmware to
> > better understand how the device works. "The only legitimate use of
> > non-free software is in the development of its free replacement." was
> > once said to me by Alexandre Oliva.
> 
> This is a valid point. Can the template be updated so it includes a
> warning about only using it for reverse engineering (etc), and a link
> to a suitable site?  (I know there is a page about this on fsf/gnu.org,
> but i can't find it)
> kk

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.html#ProprietarySoftware

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