[LinuxBIOS] CN700/VT8237RP support needed. Will pay.

[Corey Osgood]

Peter Stuge wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 29, 2007 at 02:58:28PM -0400, Corey Osgood wrote:
>> I have, erm, acquired the vt8237r datasheets
> 
> I would strongly like to ask everyone to refrain from using any
> knowledge gained from documents that they do not have a legal
> right to read, at least while working with LinuxBIOS.
> 
> LinuxBIOS' reputation among vendors would suffer greatly from even a
> single incident if the relevant agreements were not in order with the
> vendor before acquiring documentation.
> 
> This kind of mistake is even more undesired, unneccessary and uncool
> when the vendor is willing to work with us, as my impression is for
> VIA.
> 
> We would only be hurting ourselves.
> 
> 
> Worst case scenarion:
> 
> Vendor Exec: "If they can't even do it with VIA who practically give
> away their docs, why should we even give them half a chance?"
> 
> 
> //Peter
> 

Afaik, the docs I've got on this chipset (vt8237r) are not covered under
any sort of NDA, there is no watermark or other indication that they
are. Searching for "NDA" in the document turns up sta"nda"rds and
seco"nda"ry, and "disclosure" and "confidential" both come up empty. The
server that I found them on is accessible through Google, and they've
been there for quite a while, so Via has obviously not cared enough to
have the owner take them down. Personally, I don't see why sucking up to
a hardware vendor for non-confidential datasheets is necessary.

I have personally contacted Via 3 times now about datasheets for
different chipsets, and never been given a response, and 2 other people
who I've given this datasheet to said the same thing. With my most
recent attempt, I let them know both about Magden's product, and about
the potential for enthusiasts to purchase newer products instead of
having to stick with older ones should they want to use LinuxBIOS (this
was my personal case). Still no word. If they practically give them
away, I'm practically Brad Pitt!

But, in the true spirit of I-don't-wanna-piss-anyone-off, I will stop
distributing them, and I won't commit back any code I may write until
after I've been (if I ever am) given the docs officially by Via.

-Corey