In this article by Mike Downing of Integrated Communications Design, Wind River's Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Curt Schacker, expresses his company's concerns about the viability of using GPL-based software (like Linux) in embedded applications. “More customers are telling us that they see interesting aspects to Linux . . . but we're seeing a growing problem due to the growing uncertainty of using GPL-based code in embedded development,” says Wind Rivers's Schaker according to Downing. Downing writes . . .

“Schacker says Wind River is seeking a clear definition from either the Free Software Foundation or Linus Torvalds of what the GPL really means when it comes to embedded design. 'We want to offer anything that is of value to embedded developers and support that customer in that way. But as long as there are questions about the legal implications of the GPL, people are going to be very careful about moving forward' . . . “

“Stallman says that while he is going to try to clarify some of these issues (linking, for instance) in the GPL version 3.0, he is not going to distinguish between embedded and non-embedded use in the GPL . . .”

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