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Suit Claims Diebold Voting Machines Violate GPL

Posted by kdawson on from the insult-to-injury dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Diebold Inc. and its subsidiary, Premier Election Solutions, is using Ghostscript in its electronic election systems even though Diebold and PES 'have not been granted a license to modify, copy, or distribute any of Artifex's copyrighted works,' Artifex claims in court papers filed late last month in US District Court for Northern California. The gs-devel list first brought up the possible GPL violation a year ago."

5 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Ghostscript was found only on by SupremoMan · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    the voteMcCain models.

  2. Re:remember freedom? by LWATCDR · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Your drinking Artifex's koolaid.
    Artifex is ticked because they are not getting paid. It looks as if they are just using Ghostscript for printing. I guess they could put up a website with yet another copy of Ghostscript for people to download.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  3. Re:remember freedom? by LWATCDR · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If it is just a GPL issue with Ghostscript they have to do is offer the "customers" the right a copy of Ghostscript. Not really a big deal. Also is there a GPL violation at all yet? For it to be a violation one of the customers of these machines would need to request the Source.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  4. Re:remember freedom? by h4rr4r · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It seems hypocritical to be writing "free software" and then try to dictate who gets to use your work.

    No, they are not saying who can use it. Just that the software must stay free no matter who uses it.

    You are not very bright are you?

  5. Re:Are they distributing the software? by Americano · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So what you're saying is that we should tolerate fuckwits like you who comment on stuff they know nothing about? I think not.

    Apparently on Slashdot, it's regressed from not reading TFA to not even reading TF Comments you reply to now, huh? I didn't "comment on stuff," I asked a question about how the GPL would apply, and in fact stated that I wasn't conversant enough with the GPL to understand what it would require of Diebold.

    But don't let the fact that I stated no opinion about the GPL stop you from your bout of indignant nerdrage. Just be careful, please, you wouldn't want to spew doritos and mountain dew all over your keyboard. As one of the 'leet slashdotters in the know about the GPL, I'm sure you also know what a bother it is to clean up the sticky messes you've created at the computer.

    Fuckwit.