ATI: We like our proprietary Linux drivers

Intel released open-source drivers for its graphics cards on Wednesday, a bid to win Linux allies and give the operating better support, but graphics rival ATI Technologies has indicated it won't follow suit when it comes to the software that lets operating systems communicate with its workstation and PC graphics cards.

"Proprietary, patented optimizations are part of the value we provide to our customers and we have no plans to release these drivers to open source," the company said in a statement. "In addition, multimedia elements such as content protection must not, by their very nature, be allowed to go open source."

It's possible that position could change if Advanced Micro Devices' acquisition of ATI goes through, but so far AMD hasn't committed one way or the other.