Sabrina Kilian <"ykgp at vtSPAM.edu"> wrote:
>
> The closed source drivers cause a fuss when shipped with distros because
> they are being distributed. GPL applies when you distribute something,
> not on how a person uses it. The GPL on the kernel says that when you
> distribute it with modifications, those modifications need to be GPL'ed
> as well. Closed source drivers aren't, and can't be made to comply with
> the GPL, and that's the problem. It's more complex then that, really,
> but it doesn't matter to POV-Ray.
>

Some distros are not just "about" a kernel but are "about" a collection of
freeware apps you could easily download yourself if you took the time: knoppix,
edubuntu, etc.  Some of these have bristled at including povray "in the distro"
because, naturally, distributing the distro means distributing the application
set. And distributing non-GPL applications has raised heckles (FWIW, silly
ones, IMNSHO). That I know. I wonder if ***distibuting***  Billy's All Rights
Reserved SDL files would raise even more heckles if someone thought about it.

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