Boxee has confirmed the presence of GPLv3 software distributed in the Boxee Box.
In the response, it is noted that gpgv2 was included in a pre-release. This release is, however, the software that comes loaded on the device from retail. Is that a pre-release? In any case, gpgv2 itself was also released in subsequent firmwares. It has been removed from the current firmware, but other GPLv3 binaries are still being distributed in the current firmware. Every Boxee Box on the globe currently has GPLv3 software in it, in the factory-reset memory AND the currently running binaries.
There are further now questions.
Is yes-I-stole-the-candy-bar-but-I-did-not-eat-it-so-I-will-put-it-back-now-that-I-am-busted a valid argument?
Can Boxee un-distribute the binaries already distributed? The GPLv3 binaries were not only in the pre-release version. They were in the release version. And the versions after that. And the CURRENT version. Can Pandora's Box be closed again? See below for details on the current version.
Even if they delete the binaries in future releases, anyone can simply put them back into violation with a factory restore. Does Boxee have the right to change that factory restore firmware? Can Boxee reach into the homes of users and change devices the users paid for?
Is "Yes we stole software but we want to make money" an adequate excuse?
How does the US Government and Customs and Border Protection view Boxee making them implicitly profit (via import tariffs) from the import of software piracy?
The full details are at http://infinityoverzero.com/bbox/
Openboxee
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Boxee has confirmed the presence of GPLv3 software distributed in the Boxee Box. In the response, it is noted that gpgv2 was included in a pre-release. This release is, however, the software that comes loaded on the device from retail. Is that a pre-release? In any case, gpgv2 itself was also released in subsequent firmwares. It has been removed from the current firmware, but other GPLv3 binaries are still being distributed in the current firmware. Every Boxee Box on the globe currently has GPLv3 software in it, in the factory-reset memory AND the currently running binaries. There are further now questions. Is yes-I-stole-the-candy-bar-but-I-did-not-eat-it-so-I-will-put-it-back-now-that-I-am-busted a valid argument? Can Boxee un-distribute the binaries already distributed? The GPLv3 binaries were not only in the pre-release version. They were in the release version. And the versions after that. And the CURRENT version. Can Pandora's Box be closed again? See below for details on the current version. Even if they delete the binaries in future releases, anyone can simply put them back into violation with a factory restore. Does Boxee have the right to change that factory restore firmware? Can Boxee reach into the homes of users and change devices the users paid for? Is "Yes we stole software but we want to make money" an adequate excuse? How does the US Government and Customs and Border Protection view Boxee making them implicitly profit (via import tariffs) from the import of software piracy? The full details are at http://infinityoverzero.com/bbox/ Openboxee