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Allnet GPL Infringement Settled Constructively
Elektroschock writes "LWN has coverage of a GPL dispute settled in a constructive manner. Allnet GmbH, German manufacturer and distributor of networking equipment, including switches, routers, NICs and wireless adapters, infringed the GNU Public License of netfilter/iptables. As part of the settlement Allnet GmbH will donate money to tax-exempt not-for-profit organizations, i.e. FSF Europe and FFII. Both organisations lobby for better copyright and patent legislation in Europe."
Yes, you don't have to pay taxes on donaitions to non-for-profit organizations if they have been regonized as publicly beneficial by the tax office.
"Rather than giving money to the FSF, why not give money to groups which write free software?"
I think giving the money to the FSF Europe is a better idea, as it benefits a much wider group of Free software developers. From their website:
The FSF Europe supports, coordinates and develops projects in the Free Software area, especially the GNU Project.
It also provides computer resources to Free Software developers to enable them to continue their developments.
The FSF Europe helps companies to develop business models based on Free Software or fit existing models to it; it encourages companies in their evolution to Free Software.
To make it easier for companies based on Free Software to be commercially successful, the FSF Europe also seeks to broaden the market for Free Software.
The FSF Europe helps coordinating and networking other initiatives in the Free Software area.
Think for yourself, destroy your television.
In most countries, you would be well within your "fair dealing" rights to quote an excerpt so small. Therefore, you have most probably not violated anyone's copyright. Since your statutory rights are inalienable, and the GPL makes no attempt to detract from them, the only thing you possibly could be charged with is wasting police time, or behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Je fume. Tu fumes. Nous fûmes!
FSF Europe is NOT FSF.
Free Software Forundation Europe, that's Georg Greve and the European crowd, no zelots that force you to call your operating system GNU/linux. They are well respected European lobbyists. Money spent on EU lobbying saves a lot for projects. For instance the EU IPR enforcement directive may be very dangerous for EU citizens that 'just write code'.
And FFII is probably the most succesful player in patent legislation over the past 30 years. Patent attorney made their own laws for a long time.
Anti-msikvwebasdoiju public license:
1. You may do anything you want with works distributed under this license, except for including them in a software project called "msikvwebasdoiju". That is an addtional restriction. I cannot really think of a way to write a lisence that would stand true to the ideal of free software, but allow random people to add extra restrictions. Since you seem to be so well versed in (mis)quoting ppl, maybe you can find just such a license for me?
Next time you quote me, could you plaese read the whole of my comment before doing it.
The link to Allnet is wrong in a way which suggests that it's spam. The correct link is http://www.allnet.de/.
I guess they asked every netfilter developer if they agreed with this settlement, and they did.
blah
Paying big bucks (euros in this case) makes one immune from GPL infringment claims. What the shame ...
FUD-alert ! Allnet did not just donate money to several organisations but also agreed to release their modifications under GPL and to work with iptables together in the future. So they agreed to comply with the GPL, release their code under GPL, work with the iptables team together and additionally donate some money. Which is good news, IMHP !
There is a third option. The could go to the original authors of the GPL'd code and negotiate a different license. This wouldn't be to hard if all the code was written by an individual or single company, but if it was something like the Linux kernel it would probably be impossible. IIRC, they would need permission from everyone whose code is in the version concerned.
IANAL etc...
Decode these
I like Pico. It doesn't bother me with "options"...and unlike vi, Pico tells me how to exit the program right there at the bottom of the screen...no man pages needed!
Hey freaks: now you're ju
I would like to point out that the FSF is also not a bunch of zealots. RMS is the founder, but it is run by a lot of people. Even if you don't like RMS (although a lot of the reason he's been marginalized stems from ESR badmouthing him/exaggarating his problems, rather than RMS himself), they are a big organization. Most of the other head honchos over the FSF are quite amazing.
Eben Moglen (the chief counsel of the FSF, law professor at Columbia) is extremely reasonable, competent and friendly. He is a brilliant lawyer and an excellent public speaker. You should go to one of his talks at some point -- I cannot overemphasize how good he is. A large number of the FSF charity events are headed by him for precisely that reason. Heck, try reading some of his writings.
Gerry Sussman is President of the FSF. He is one of MIT's top professors. He is the creator of the Scheme programming language, the guy who proved the motion of the solar system is chaotic, and is responsible for dozens of other similar breakthroughs in computer science, math, physics, and electronics. He is brilliant, but also one of the nicest, most reasonable guys I know.
I've met both. I can assure you neither of these guys could be described as a zealot, or anything close to a zealot.
It is very unfair to characterize the FSF simply by one man, even if he is the founder. The FSF is very good at what it does. RMS is one piece of the equation, and acts as a sort of moral compass for the organization as a whole (and his morals are indisputable, although you may argue with his tactics or interpersonal skills). However, people like Eben and Gerry handle many of the FSF's operations, and they do their jobs competently, and exceedingly well.
To use an inferior product just because you don't wish to be free is to shackle oneself with ideology.
Even were mutt inferior to pine, its freedom would mean that you could improve it yourself.