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GP2X Linux Handheld Makers Don't Understand GPL

Posted by samzenpus on from the please-release-me dept.

Bjimba writes "Apparently, the developer community is having a lot of trouble convincing the makers of the GP2X Linux handheld to comply with the GPL by releasing source at the same time as binary firmware releases. This link leads to a synopsis of the issue, and yes, it's my own blog, but there's no ads."

3 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Only to be expected by pilkul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't South Korea, like China, a place where lots of piracy goes on without being taken seriously? If so, we can't expect the reverse-copyright jujitsu of the GPL to be taken seriously in their legal system either.

  2. Re:Let that be a lesson to device makers by fishbowl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Using GPL carries a very high risk that your company will be attacked by socialist whiners when you do anything out of lockstep with their beliefs."

    Violating any software license carries a risk that you will be litigated against by the copyright holder whose license you refuse to honor. Doing this is not "going out of lockstep with beliefs", but is *BREAKING THE LAW.*

    --
    -fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
  3. Gee, color me surprised! by pla · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, no trolling or flamebait here...

    A company released hardware that makes it easy and convenient to run all your favorite emulated copyright violations on portable hardware.

    Does anyone really think they gave a damn about the GPL as a philosophy rather than a means of getting a cheap OS, for which a port of most emulators already exists?


    I want one of these toys too, but don't mistake the manufacturer for "good guys" just because they chose Linux.