On Tue, Apr 8, 2008 at 6:38 PM, Luke -Jr luke@dashjr.org wrote:
How is a "plug-in" or "driver" any different from an elaboration?
I'm pretty sure we had this out f2f when we were working at adjacent desks, Luke, but I'm biting anyway.
The existence of the modular plug-in interface creates a line of demarcation.
Consider wall-socket 110 volt 60hz electricity. A lamp is not an elaboration of the wall-socket. It could get what it gets from the wall-socket from some other system. A three-prong grounded wall socket, however, /IS/ a derivative work of a two-pronger.
If Nvidia were trying to pass off an extended version of the module interface, which they are not, as their own, that would be a derivative work.
By crafting glue between the Linux modular interface and their hardware, they are not creating a derivative work, any more than snipping off one kind of power plug and attaching another in order to power a floor lamp somewhere that has different kinds of power outlets is.
your question -- how is this thing that is different from this other thing different from it -- could be turned around. How are they the same?
How /IS/ a plug-in an elaboration? I think it clearly is not one.