Synaptics Uses Legal Threats to Kill the Open-Source DisplayLink Driver
Synaptics Appears to Use Legal Threats to Block Open-Source DisplayLink Driver
The Vino driver, a clean-room, AI-assisted DisplayLink driver written in Rust for modern Linux hardware, has vanished after Synaptics sent its developer a cease and desist notice citing patent violations. The GitHub repository is now private, and the correspondence is visible in an LKML thread. While older USB2-era DisplayLink hardware had open-source Linux support, Synaptics appears determined to keep its newer USB graphics IP closed.
So don't look for an open-source, upstream DisplayLink driver in Linux anytime soon...
- pona-a
I do find using AI in a clean-room reverse-engineering project amounts to shooting yourself in the foot: you're sleep-walking into a legal minefield in an already legally gray field, and also risk over-relying on the AI's trial-and-error instead of developing a solid intuition of its functioning yourself.
At the same time, if we're being honest, Synaptics will have sent the C&D no matter what. They are an anti-consumer company with more lawyers than engineers, so of course they'll use all their resources to bully any competition, especially the most vulnerable.
- nerdjon
This is frustrating, I have had a growing distrust (and just frustration with the software in the first place) of DisplayLink with the Dock that I use, I would love alternative software.
This also just seems stupid to me, you don't pay for the DisplayLink software you pay for the hardware. More options for how to use your hardware would be a good thing to them would it not?
Though it sounds like much of the issue was that it wasn't really "clean-room" which is a separate issue. Though unclear if that really is at the root of it or not.
- ectoloph
> If you are not currently represented by competent legal counsel, I strongly recommend that you obtain legal representation promptly. You are going to need it.
"You are going to need it" sounds ominous.
I think the cat is somewhat out of the bag with open models around though, their capabilities for pretty much uninhibited RE are scary.
- nijave
If they were smart, they'd welcome an effort to make DisplayLink not a piece of trash.
- ada-h00k
I hope someone has archived the repository so it can be hosted somewhere where those ridiculous Western copyright and patent laws don't apply.