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Dealing With a GPL Violation?

Posted by kdawson on from the enforcing-it dept.

Sortova writes "For many years now I've been maintaining OpenNMS, a free and open source network management framework published under the GPL. A couple of years ago it came to our attention that a company called Cittio was using OpenNMS as part of their proprietary and commercial network management application. I talked with Jamie Lerner, the Cittio founder, and he assured me that Cittio was abiding by the GPL. However, we were recently contacted by a potential client who was also considering Cittio's Watchtower, and it appears that they are not disclosing that they are using GPL'd code or at least not in the clear and concise fashion required by the GPL, including the offer of source code for all of the code they are including and any changes being made to that code. Since the copyright for OpenNMS is held by a number of commercial companies, the Software Freedom Law Center is not able to help us defend or even investigate a potential violation. I was curious if anyone here on Slashdot had experienced anything similar or has any advice?"

6 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Asked before -- the answer is the same by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    The RIAA doesn't know that their lawyers are looking for jobs on Slashdot. :P

  2. Post it on slashdot!!! by syousef · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    1. Write GPL software
    2. Discover GPL software license has been violated
    3. Post all over slashdot asking legal advice
    4. Whine about why no lawyer will touch your case with a barge pole
    5. ????
    6. Profit

    If you're in a situation that might need a lawyer, contact one. Asking for help on /. is going to do your case more harm than good.

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
  3. Sony Mylo GPL source? by Technomancer · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Sony has just released second generation device,Mylo-2, both Mylo-1 and Mylo-2 are Linux based and locked tight. Where are the kernel sources? GPLed userland sources? Nobody seems to notice or nobody cares.

  4. Re:You don't know they are in violation by QuantumG · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Please read the entire thread before posting.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  5. Re:Would Cittio go for libel? by erroneus · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Medical matters belong in the hands of God. Most gods I talk to, their first bit of advice is "pray and do what I say."

    Do you see the problem with that statement?

  6. Re:Would Cittio go for libel? by RicardoGCE · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Other than the fact that this God you refer to is nothing more than a fairy tail?
    Greatest typo ever.