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Echostar DishPVR 721 GPL Software Released

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the make-it-open dept.

Faw writes "It was mentioned before that Echostar was releasing a Linux based PVR. It has been out for a month now, and the modifications to the kernel and other software are here. The cool thing is the site is running on the same receiver. Someone is already hacking it. Wonder how long until the receiver get slashdotted."

4 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. GPL? Um, nope... by haukex · · Score: 5, Informative
    Please note that the DishPVR 721 software also includes some proprietary elements that are not subject to the GPL. You cannot perform a working DishPVR 721 software build without the additional proprietary code.

    This discussion was held before but here goes:

    Combining two pieces of software more than just calling each other through the shell constitutes them being one program, especially in this case where the software won't even *compile* without the missing (proprietary) code. This is not allowed under the GPL - either the entire software is released under the GPL or you can't release it under the GPL at all. (see here)

    Admittedly, it's nice of them to release the code and make it avaliable to the public, I'm sure it'll be interesting for everyone - but once again, the GPL is beaten.

    1. Re:GPL? Um, nope... by mikec · · Score: 3, Informative
      You're oversimplifying. Actually, it is extremely unclear what constitutes being "one program". The GPL FAQ says it's ultimately up to a judge, and goes on to speculate in an extremely vague fashion about what may and may not constitute combining two parts into one program. There has only been one court case (Nintendo vs. Goloob Games) and the ruling was not definitive.

      Even the question of whether dynamic linking is covered is somewhat questionable. To quote RMS,

      "I think we have a pretty good argument that nontrivial dynamic linking creates a combined (i.e. derivative) work. I have an idea for how to change the GPL to make it clearer and more certain, but I need to see if we can work out the details in a way that our lawyer believes will really work."

      Even assuming that the FSF prevails in this argument, it is far from clear that programs connected by pipes, shared memory, CORBA, or SOAP would be considered "one program." In fact, the GPL is so weak in this area that it's one of the main reasons for GPL version 3.
  2. Re:File Format... by Kagato · · Score: 3, Informative

    The 721 uses stock PVR functionality built into a broadcom chipset (interestingly enough the chipset supports both HD and SD). The broadcom chipset provides hardware DES3 encryption for PVR archive functions. It's likely dish enabled the encryption because at a hardware level they don't lose much as far as clock cycles go.

  3. Re:GPL violation? by Jade+E.+2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    You're missing the point. The restrictions you're talking about only apply when you're using someone else's GPLed code. In this case, since it's their own code, they can do it however they like, including releasing 2 versions, a non-GPLed binary version including the proprietary bits (inside the boxes) and a GPLed source of the non-proprietary bits. If they had taken someone elses GPLed code and used it, then they would have to release the whole thing or nor use that code, but since they own the code they can do with it what they like.