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What is the Best Way to Handle a GPL Violation?
DeadSea queries: "When you find that somebody is violating the GPL by distributing your code or a derivative of your code as a closed source product, how do you go about handling it? I have found two violations of the GPL for my Java Utilities, in the last month. The Free Software Foundation says that the copyright holder is the only person empowered to act. If you are the copyright holder, how do you communicate with the offenders? I know folks here must have dealt with this before: Linksys, SCO, Castle Technology, United Linux, and others. Personally, I would like to believe that with a little nudging (and without lawyers), I can resolve the things. As such, I would especially appreciate any example letters or other documents that might be effective."
I would suggest sending an informal e-mail asking if they understand that they're violating the GPL. If that doesn't resolve the problem, the next step might be e-mailing someone at the FSF for advice. If you really serious about it and the FSF can't help you, you may need to get some advice from a lawyer.
Of course, the Passive Aggressive way would be to simply decompile the byte code. Java decompilers are quite excellent at producing almost exactly the same source code as was there to begin with (minus comments). You could then put the GPL license at the top, post a copyright for the work they did. After that, send them a letter telling them that you assisted their efforts at becoming compliant with the GPL. You could even bill them with a consulting fee if you really wanted to get a funny reaction from them. Of course, if you did this, you would almost certainly need to find a good lawyer ahead of time.
What is the Best Way to Handle a GPL Violation?
Shoot on site!!
Not even the Godfather will be able to call him off.
And we'll, uh... check out their websites... until they stop responding. That'll get their attention.
Get a lawyer. Asking for legal help on slashdot is about as dumb as asking us for medical advice. (It's possible that the advice might be good, but you could end up neutering yourself)
#1 Send a threatening letter to users claiming a violation
#2 Demand $699 from the users
#3 ???
#4 PROFIT!
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
Just find any of their e-mail addresses that you can, and submit them to any porn mailing lists that you can find. It may not work, but it's fun to do.
Crushing dreams at the speed of sarcasm
You guys have no idea how the glimmer in your eyes can scare the average CEO, especially when holding a set of garden shears.
/^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
well Linus didn't think twice before he copied SCO's intellectual property
when in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!
Yeah, that's good advice. Last time I threatened legal action against a company, they responded by filing a lawsuit against me for threatening a lawsuit against them, and won so much money that I had to declare bankruptcy.
Random and weird software I've written.
You know, it does kinda look like this guy GPLed his Programming 101 homework assignments :)
# (/.);;
- : float -> float -> float =
There is no such thing as a GPL violation. The GPL violates the US constitution, Federal Copyright Law, and is unenforceable due the the inequitable conduct of IBM before the US patent office.
Yours sincerely
D. McBride
P.S.
I have a great deal for Linux users. Please send a SASE and $699 for details.
If I were you, I would have slashdotted them instead of slashdotting myself, but I'm a vindictive bastard, not a masochist
You can't take the sky from me...
That link is already in the /. article?
;)
Yes. The slashdot article. 127 replys to the article, 12 people read it. After all, this IS slashdot, would you expect anything different?
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
Simple answer : post a link to their website on slashdot.
DrkBr
Darl, is that you?
In 1991, a crack development unit was sent to prison by a software patent court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Linux Expo underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as coders of fortune. If someone rips off your code, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... the C-Team.
Hey! How come an SCO lawyer is asking advice on how to prosecute their case on slash dot? Oh, never mind, I think I answered my own question.
Prevent email address forgery. Publish SPF records for y
So, you're saying that the best way to get a vendor who's put GPL'd code in a commercial product is... advertising?