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Castle Technology UK Ripping off Kernel Code?
Jonathan Riddell writes "`It would appear that Castle Technology Limited, UK, have taken some of the Linux 2.5 code, and incorporated it into their own product, "RISC OS", which is distributed in binary ROM form built into machines they sell. This code is linked with other proprietary code.' Full details from Russell King on lkml."
I bet they steal movies from Kazaa too.
-Jack
You are all pirates, plain and simple.
Why don't Brits write their own OS?
Because they haven't figured out how to make them leak oil!
This would be like going after people who steal copyrighted material, like movies or songs. Oh yeah. What is the difference again?
I guess the only rules/laws worth protecting are the ones you agree with. This is typical free software propoganda.
Hey, they sure know how to put together an HTML form processor that doesn't allow me to hijack it and bomb the hell out of their mail server with polite messages about the GPL.
Do they?
<INPUT TYPE='hidden' NAME='recipient' value="weborders@castle.uk.co">
Hmmm...
"And the meaning of words; when they cease to function; when will it start worrying you?"
There weren't any details, and I forgot how this one goes exactly.
You know what I mean. Radio. King. Dead in Maine home. No details. American icon.
--
the strongest word is still the word "free"
On their <a href="http://www.riscos.org/">RiscOS site </a>they make the statement:<br><br><i>
RISC OS is a windows-and-mouse based operating system to compete with Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux in an increasingly computer-orientated world. </i><br><br>
What cheeky little bastards they are to pirate linux code in an effort to compete with linux.
Let's see:
Microsoft has a EULA indicating what you can and can't do (e.g. resell). This is bad. Bad Microsoft. We hates's Microsoft, they tricksies.
GLP has a EULA (you have to do this or that to use this code). Good GPL. They'ss our friendss. Nice GPL.
Good lord. Make up your mind, people.
You are missing the point of copyright law.
Copyright law covers COPYING and DISTRIBUTING works. It is not part of contract law, and even if it did, the GNU GPL is NOT a contract. Therefore, it does not fall under contract law. The GNU GPL is a LICENSE.
Under US copyright laws, you are not allowed to copy any covered work (except for fair use) without the copyright owner's permission. This permission could come in the form of a license, or a contract. The GNU GPL is the license that gives permission to any licenseholder to copy and redistribute the program if certain constraints are met. This document is the "permission" that is required by copyright law. It doesn't need to be tested to be enforceable. And it doesn't have to be a contract. It isn't a contract, and thus doesnt fall under your hypothetical case's circumstances.
As is noted a hunderd thousand times on slashdot every year, you don't have to agree to the GNU GPL just because you use the program. You only have to follow the GPL when you make copies not covered under fair use.
Two infinite things: your stupidity and mine. But I'm not sure about the latter. If my sig offends you, I'm sorry.
Willfull copyright violation for profit is a fealony. You CAN force them, physically, to stop making copies. It is a criminal offence that any police officer can enforce, legally.
(that is assuming you can find them)
Two infinite things: your stupidity and mine. But I'm not sure about the latter. If my sig offends you, I'm sorry.
I doubt MS would care one way or another about a high profile enforcement of the GPL. Believe it or not, MS' Services for Unix contains some GPLed utilities and they offer the source for them the way they're supposed to. Don't get me wrong, I think MS is run by a lot of scum sucking weasels but they aren't STUPID weasels.
Microsoft has an army of developers and pool of cash that let's them buy pretty much any commercial codebase they want. They have nothing to gain by ripping off GPLed code and quite a lot to lose.
MS whinges about GPLed code not because they can't steal it but because their Embrace Extend Extinguish and FUD tactics are largely useless when it is a competitor.