Slashdot Mirror
GP2X Linux Handheld Makers Don't Understand GPL
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."
Post their URL in /. story
/.'ers results in DDOS & increased bandwidth costs ($$$).
Massive influx of outraged
Re-post daily until GP2X concedes.
Who will guard the guards?
I still don't understand why the source distribution is compulsory in the way that it is. I would argue, and I'm sure others have, that from a purely "end-user" perspective, including the source code is both confusing and superfluous.
I absolutely agree with the philosophy that produced this clause, but the execution leaves much to be desired. I suspect that there will be many more cases like this one to provide flame-fodder for slashdotters, and that this clause will be somewhat revised sooner or later to more reasonably balance the needs of simplicity versus the need to "spread the revolution" virally.
We need to ask ourselves: Is the OSS cause materially harmed by not including the source itself in distributions? While the license (as I understand it, correct me if I'm wrong) does allow alternative means of "providing" and/or linking the source, how many people who know enough to look for it wouldn't know that it can easily be found via resources like Sourceforge?
I don't think anybody wants to get into a position where the Forces of Good start stumbling down RIAA Road. Enforcement of license provisions like this one can only serve the purposes of proprietary FUD, and detracts from time better spent coding and/or evangelizing.