To: Emmanuel Fleury <fleury@cs.aau.dk>
Cc: Arjan van de Ven <arjan@infradead.org>,
       Linux Kernel ML <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: freebox possible GPL violation
From: Michael Poole <mdpoole@troilus.org>
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 08:45:36 -0400
In-Reply-To: <4343C73E.9000507@cs.aau.dk> (Emmanuel Fleury's message of "Wed,
	05 Oct 2005 14:29:50 +0200")
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Emmanuel Fleury writes:

> First, it is very arguable to say that they are "distributing" the
> software as it does not comes with the FreeBox but is automatically
> downloaded at each boot through the DSLAM network (which the user is not
> supposed to know about).

In the US, copyright law's definitive use of "distribution" says that
"to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the
public by sale or other stranfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or
lending" is a right reserved to the copyright owner.  Saying "it's
only a loan" or "it's only temporary" does not relieve any obligation
under the GPL.  I would imagine that law across the EU is similar.

Michael Poole
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