Re: Linux GPL violations.

From: Andreas Bombe (andreas.bombe@munich.netsurf.de)
Date: Mon Jul 24 2000 - 19:40:48 EST


On Mon, Jul 24, 2000 at 02:28:30AM -0400, Mike A. Harris wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jul 2000, Joseph Elwell wrote:
> >I recently got a virign webplayer
> >(http://www.virginconnectme.com/). It runs Linux as
> >it's operating system. There's no mention of Linux or
> >the GPL in the license that is included in the manual.
> >In fact the license in the manual concerning the
> >"Software" is rather restrictive. And there's no
> >mention of how to obtain the source for the kernel.
>
> Hmm. I don't know for sure that a product using Linux must state
> that it does, however if you know it does and can prove that, I
> believe you can ask them for the source, and the source of any
> modifications must be provided.

If they distribute GPL software in binary form they do have to either
include the source or a written offer for the source. GPL clause 3 a)
and b). If they don't include source and don't lose a word about that
they are violating the license.

-- 
 Andreas E. Bombe <andreas.bombe@munich.netsurf.de>    DSA key 0x04880A44
http://home.pages.de/~andreas.bombe/    http://linux1394.sourceforge.net/

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