Is Sveasoft Violating the GPL?

Ron Harwood writes "First, Linksys was violating the GPL by not releasing their source for their Linux implementation on the WRT54G wireless router and WAP54G access point. When this was rectified, third party firmware started showing up. Well, now it looks like Sveasoft (one of the third party developers) has decided to restrict access to their modified source code to subscribers - that also will need to pay $49 for a CD rather than being able to download it." The thread summary at DSLReports only makes it clear that this is all very complicated.

Comments

spell checking

[pizza_milkshake]

...by not releasing their source for their Linux implentation...

seriously, does slashcode not have a spellcheck? it's not that hard, people. i hate to nitpick, but poor spelling, even that written by the most capable person, adds an air of incompetence.

/me hopes i didn't make too many spelling errors in the post

Re:spell checking

[aardvarkjoe]

poor spelling, even that written by the most capable person, adds an air of incompetence.

So does the inability to capitalize the first word in a sentence.

Re:Important question for Slashdot

[CipherDemon]

I think you missed the point. Most times people are angered because they must pay $15-20 to obtain a CD with possibly 1 or 2 songs they like. Online music stores such as iTMS have helped solve this problem by allowing people to download music for about $1 per song or $10 per album, which I find to be reasonable. HOWEVER, when big business basically goes out and says "The artists aren't making money anymore" I get somewhat angry. First of all, whenever I see the artists, they seem to have plenty of money, and are doing very well with more money than i could ever hope to accumulate. Second of all, how much of my $15 goes to the artist? I would rather download 15 songs from the artist and directly wire them $15. I'm sure that they would make a LOT more money this way. Who's making money from CD sales?

Corporate executives
CD Publishers
Recording studios
Art designers
Music Artists

But wait! Who came up with the music and actually sings it? Just the music artists...iTMS cuts out the need for the overpricing of media and completely eliminates the CD publisher and Art designer from the money and somewhat reduces the income of these executives (because of not overpricing the material). From iTMS, you can listen to music on your iPod, your computer (whether it be windows, mac, or *nix (use HYMN)), and any other device you so wish to record over to. CDs are capable of the same, but, they're overpriced IMO.

The only objection I really have to your post is that the post you responded to said that they didn't condone the breaking of licenses, whether it be the GPL or regarding copyrighted music.

Re: Who really comes up with the music?

[fyngyrz]

Of the nodes on your list of those receiving income, people in/at the recording studio (recording and mastering engineers, producers) are often significantly responsible for the quality, tonality, instrumental (and physical) balance, noise level or lack thereof, and instrumental voicing of what you hear in the end product.

As a musician - and a recording engineer - I feel bound to point out that generally speaking, without a recording and mastering engineer(s), many - perhaps even most - recordings would sound much, much worse than they do now.

I have run into occasional artists who have recording/mastering talents, but not very many. I'm delighted when I do, because we have something very interesting and rare to talk about. It's not the same kind of performance skill at all as picking up an instrument and wailing away. But is is something that comes through on the end product.

I don't know how familiar you are with older music, but a favorite example of mine is Grand Funk Railroad before and after Todd Rundgren got ahold of them. It was truly as if they were an entirely new band. Same group, same instruments and amps, even, but... well, you have to listen to see what I mean. You might or might not like the changes, but you cannot deny that very significant changes are indeed manifest.

Just something you might want to consider when you think about how you might want to see the music retailing channel restructured.

Re:Important question for Slashdot

[gonzo67]

Perhaps one already owns the music on vinyl, and does not wish to pay for a second copy of the same music on CD to simply make a copy for use with a portable MP3 player. As one has already bought a copy, one is allowed by law to have as many forms of that music as one wishes....for one's OWN use. For example, I own the boxed set of Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage" in vinyl. Shoudl I have to then go out and buy a copy on CD just to make a copy form y Rio Karma? No.

Re: Who really comes up with the music?

[CipherDemon]

I fully agree. I'm an A/V dork myself and hang out with the local big-name production company people. Most people are amazed at what the tech's can do to improve the sound quality on the end product. It's all great fun.

Uh

[rd_syringe]

Happy to burst your bubble. I voted for Nader '00. As a matter of fact...so did Moore.

Re:Important question for Slashdot

[Disevidence]

Ignore the syringe fag. He is a troll. Check his posting history for lame "slashdot says..." statements about hot button issues.