linux-watch.com — Normally, GPL violations have been settled by letters from the FSF (Free Software Foundation) or other open-source organizations, pointing out the violation. For the first time in the U.S., a company, multimedia device and software vendor Monsoon Multimedia, is being taken to court for a GPL violation.
Sep 20, 2007 View in Crawl 4
battletuxSep 21, 2007
As I understand it, It means that if you use any GPL'd code (ie busybox) you have to pass on the source code for that part of your product as GPL (including all modifications to the original code). Any part of the code that is your own work and not based on any GPL'd code does not need to be disclosed.
chris9902Sep 21, 2007
I never did like the name "Free Software Foundation". it gives a confusing message.(I know it's free as in speech)
fluxionSep 21, 2007
for some reason im a bit worried about this case. what if they dont win? it should be clear as day but there's so much slithering and squirming goin on in the legal world with this kind of stuff
somerandomnerdSep 21, 2007
One of the conditions of the GPL (Greater Public Licence) is that the conditions that you receive it under are passed on to anyone who received a copy from you. So any derivatives or modifications you make to software under the GPL are also covered by the GPL.Another of the conditions is that the source code must be made publically available- whether that's downloadable on the internet or posted on a CD to anyone who asks for it.
thomashaukSep 21, 2007
Technically source code only needs to be receivable by the people you are distributing it, or anything derived from it, to. But because they could then publicly release it generally it is in the first place.
bonkedSep 21, 2007
GPL is VERY specific that it is not PUBLIC DOMAIN - take 10 minutes to familiarize yourself by reading it before making such assumptions.