According to [a post by Keith Packard on the Linux kernel mailinglist](http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=115536806403908&w=2 "Re: Announcing free software graphics drivers for Intel i965"):

This module contains stuff which Intel can't publish in source form, like
Macrovision register stuff and other trade secrets. It's optional, so if you
don't want to use a binary module, you don't get to use code written by
Intel agents for these features. And, we also haven't figured out how and
when to release this binary blob, so there's no way you can use it today.
The driver remains completely functional in the absense of the binary piece,
and in fact has no reduction in functionality from previous driver releases.

So much for that idea eh?