Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S269216AbUJKUF5 (ORCPT ); Mon, 11 Oct 2004 16:05:57 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S269221AbUJKUF5 (ORCPT ); Mon, 11 Oct 2004 16:05:57 -0400 Received: from mail1.webmaster.com ([216.152.64.168]:6660 "EHLO mail1.webmaster.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S269216AbUJKUFk (ORCPT ); Mon, 11 Oct 2004 16:05:40 -0400 From: "David Schwartz" To: Subject: RE: possible GPL violation by Free Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 13:05:42 -0700 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-15" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.6604 (9.0.2911.0) In-Reply-To: <200410112139.09905.glenny@nephthys.org> Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 X-Authenticated-Sender: joelkatz@webmaster.com X-Spam-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:42:19 -0700 (not processed: message from trusted or authenticated source) X-MDRemoteIP: 206.171.168.138 X-Return-Path: davids@webmaster.com X-MDaemon-Deliver-To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Reply-To: davids@webmaster.com X-MDAV-Processed: mail1.webmaster.com, Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:42:21 -0700 Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 2498 Lines: 50 >?Moreover,?Freebox?boots?(each?power?cycle)?over?the?network?and > downloads the OS (which seems to Linux and it's not resident). The > bootstrap code used to boot over network is from Broadcom (for V4 > model). So even if you can buy it, you just have a box without any > OS inside. This is clearly a form of software distribution, regardless of who owns or doesn't own the box the software is being distributed to. The argument then becomes who it is that's entitled to the source code. So now the question becomes can you "lend" someone GPL'd software without having to "lend" them the source code. It is pretty clear that this practice is illegal in the United States: "(b)(1)(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), unless authorized by the owners of copyright in the sound recording or the owner of copyright in a computer program (including any tape, disk, or other medium embodying such program), and in the case of a sound recording in the musical works embodied therein, neither the owner of a particular phonorecord nor any person in possession of a particular copy of a computer program (including any tape, disk, or other medium embodying such program), may, for the purposes of direct or indirect commercial advantage, dispose of, or authorize the disposal of, the possession of that phonorecord or computer program (including any tape, disk, or other medium embodying such program) by rental, lease, or lending. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall apply to the rental, lease, or lending of a phonorecord for nonprofit purposes by a nonprofit library or nonprofit educational institution. The transfer of possession of a lawfully made copy of a computer program by a nonprofit educational institution to another nonprofit educational institution or to faculty, staff, and students does not constitute rental, lease, or lending for direct or indirect commercial purposes under this subsection." And here's the truly hilarious part -- if not for their download scheme, they would be exempt from this law! It goes on to list as an exception: "(i) a computer program which is embodied in a machine or product and which cannot be copied during the ordinary operation or use of the machine or product." IANAL. DS - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/