Stop Microsoft

All Things Microsoft => Microsoft Software => Topic started by: Jack2000 on 10 September 2006, 09:05

Title: Who owns the drivers
Post by: Jack2000 on 10 September 2006, 09:05

I wonder who realy owns the drivers that come w/ windows
MS itself or the Hardware Manufacturer ?



And is it a crime to use a driver on some other OS that the owner/developer has condemned ?

Title: Re: Who owns the drivers
Post by: piratePenguin on 10 September 2006, 15:40

MS could probably say "you must only use this software on Windows" in the EULA and then it would be illegal to run that version of paint etc (why you would want to, I dunno) through wine, and it'd also be illegal to use Windows DLLs, which some people who own Windows licenses do. If you copy them over to a wine installation they can help.

If you own a Windows license, it's legal to use their drivers on another OS I think. You can do that with ndiswrapper for network drivers - dunno of any way with audio drivers though.