Suit Claims Diebold Voting Machines Violate GPL

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."

Comments

Overlook the matter

[Rik Sweeney]

Diebold and PES 'have not been granted a license to modify, copy, or distribute any of Artifex's copyrighted works

In a later statement, Artifex said that they would overlook this violation if all the machines were reconfigured to auto-vote for Obama.

Re:Overlook the matter

[Rik Sweeney]

Whoops, got modded as a troll. I reckon I can still claw this back though:

In a later statement, Artifex said that they would overlook this violation if all the machines were reconfigured to auto-vote for McCain.

There, that should keep everyone happy :)

Re:Overlook the matter

[Anonymous Coward]

There, that should keep everyone happy :)

A guy walks into a bar, gets a beer, and announces, "Obama is a horse's ass!".
When he picks himself up off the ground outside, he walks back in, and says, "McCain is a horse's ass!"
After picking himself up off the ground again, he walks back in, and says to the bartender, "I don't get it. If it's not McCain country, and it's not Obama country, then what is it?"
The bartender says, "Son, this is *horse* country."

Good thing Diebold is helping with the election

[Dan667]

Would not want anyone of questionable ethics that would steal or worse help by counting votes. /sarcasm

Perfect /. story

[PearsSoap]

Actually, maybe if it was Microsoft Suit Claims Diebold Voting Machines Violate GPL.

Re:I liked this video.

[BenSchuarmer]

There's been a revision: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/voting_machines_elect_one_of

Re:The thing is

[Gat0r30y]

A) a part of the US government

Well it looks like A) came true: DRE 700 for pres!

Well what do you know...

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently elections aren't the only thing they steal.

Re:Are they distributing the software?

[Score Whore]

You're right. 1) At most they only have to provide this to the people that they've sold machines to. Anyone else can go roger a knothole. 2) Aggregation, as you note, doesn't lead to licensing infection.

Re:Ghostscript was found only on

[calmofthestorm]

Oh so THAT's why only blue districts need anti-virus applied just before election day