🚀 go-pugleaf

DMA-BUF is a recent kernel feature that allows multiple GPUs to
quickly copy data into each others' framebuffers. A use case would be
the NVIDIA Optimus that pairs a fast GPU with an Intel integrated GPU,
where the NVIDIA GPU writes into the Intel framebuffer when it is
active. But, NVIDIA won't be able to use this infrastructure because
it's GPL. Alan Cox replied on LKML to a request from one of their
engineers to mark the API non-GPL:

"NAK. This needs at the very least the approval of all rights holders
for the files concerned and all code exposed by this change. Also I'd
note if you are trying to do this for the purpose of combining it with
proprietary code then you are still in my view as a (and the view of
many other) rights holder to the kernel likely to be in breach of the
GPL requirements for a derivative work. You may consider that formal
notification of my viewpoint. Your corporate legal team can explain to
you why the fact you are now aware of my view is important to them."

The rest of the thread is worth a read (a guy from RedHat agrees that
this code is GPL and cannot become non-GPL without relicensing from a
major subset of graphics system contributors). This has a ripple
effect: it means that all of the ARM SoC GPU drivers can't use it
either, and it may prevent any proprietary drivers for the proposed
DRI version 3.

http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/10/11/1918251/alan-cox-to-nvidia-you-cant-use-dma-buf
http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/dri-devel/2012-October/028857.html
http://lwn.net/Articles/154602/

coz- niech zyje GPL!!!111