GL_ARB_TEXTURE_float

[klaus]

I wanted to know if this extention is available for ATI open source driver, and if not, I want to know where to check it out. Can anyone help on this?

[elanthis]

I wanted to know if this extention is available for ATI open source driver, and if not, I want to know where to check it out. Can anyone help on this?

Isn't that one of the exact features mentioned under the patented-OpenGL article that just got published? If so, then no, there is no Open Source support, and (hope aside) probably won't be anytime soon.

[madman2k]

glxinfo | grep float
GL_MESAX_texture_float, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat,

[whizse]

Isn't that one of the exact features mentioned under the patented-OpenGL article that just got published? If so, then no, there is no Open Source support, and (hope aside) probably won't be anytime soon.

SGI owns US Patent #6,650,327, issued November 18, 2003. SGI
believes this patent contains necessary IP for graphics systems
implementing floating point (FP) rasterization and FP framebuffer
capabilities.

SGI will not grant the ARB royalty-free use of this IP for use in
OpenGL, but will discuss licensing on RAND terms, on an individual
basis with companies wishing to use this IP in the context of
conformant OpenGL implementations. SGI does not plan to make any
special exemption for open source implementations.

Contact Doug Crisman at SGI Legal for the complete IP disclosure.

From http://www.opengl.org/registry/specs...ture_float.txt

[Ant P.]

If we all ignore the new, patent-troll sgi, eventually they'll go bankrupt again. Hopefully they'll stay down this time.

[whizse]

Well, the patent in itself isn't new, it was filed in 1998, which means we only have to wait about nine more years for it to expire

[Nille]

Mh my question about the patent stuff is. AMD has a licence for this Functions but why we cant use this in the free driver?

I hope bridgman has an answer.

[elanthis]

If we all ignore the new, patent-troll sgi, eventually they'll go bankrupt again. Hopefully they'll stay down this time.

That won't help at all. Their assets would be auctioned off, so the patent would just get transferred to someone else.

[elanthis]

Mh my question about the patent stuff is. AMD has a licence for this Functions but why we cant use this in the free driver?

I hope bridgman has an answer.

AMD would have the right to distribute software with the technology. Redistributors of the source code - eg the Linux distros and developers - do not have that right. By your logic every licensor of a patent would have the right to give the whole world the same rights. Instead of hoping for Bridgman to tell you the obvious, how about you spend 5 seconds to think about it yourself?

[Ant P.]

That won't help at all. Their assets would be auctioned off, so the patent would just get transferred to someone else.

And obviously the OIN could buy it at this point.