Embedded Device Manufacturers Ignoring GPL

swillden writes "Iain Barker and some other Linux Kernel Mailing List readers have discovered that several manufacturers of DVD players based on the Sigma Designs EM8500 chipset are distributing Linux, both in the devices and as binary-only firmware upgrades, but not providing source. Apparently, Sigma Designs provides its customers with a copy of the kernel as part of a chipset SDK, and those customers are making and selling devices without complying with the terms of the GPL. It's not clear if this is because Sigma didn't tell its customers about the GPL and their obligations, or if they're all ignoring it on their own. Maybe they've all bought licenses from SCO and therefore don't have to comply with the GPL? The LKML post contains a list of some of the infringers."

Comments

Re:Keep this within reason, please.

[.Bruce Perens]

Yes, but don't forget that the GPL can be applied to things other than code - easy to forget here on slashdot. You could, for example, make a GPL-protected book, and I mean a physical book and not an e-book. Then someone could theoretically change the book ... add new characters, whatever. The "preferred method of the work" would, indeed, be paper. Now when you request the original it could, or even should be provided on paper! The author is allowed, however, to ask for a reasonable compensation for raw materials. There are subsections of the GPL designed just for hard-publishing ... obviously one-off source printouts can be quite costly, preventing reasonable acquistion of the source. You are allowed to create a library when it comes to books, in a sense borrowing the source. Electronic distribution is allowed in cases like this, to help avoid these logistical entanglements.