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FSF is SOLVING a problem that did not exist 10 years agoFSF is SOLVING a problem that did not exist 10 years agoPosted Oct 4, 2006 6:42 UTC (Wed) by svkelley (guest, #37299)In reply to: FSF is SOLVING a problem that did not exist 10 years ago by stevenj Parent article: Busy busy busybox
So, letś say you have some GPLv3 code you wrote that say deals with rotating images. Caterpillar has a new vehicle that runs embedded Linux for its driver's display. The software is used for the backup camera. if Caterpillar doesn't allow you access to their firmware with an unsigned loader, you have the right to revoke use of the code?
This is bull. The original intent of the code had nothing to do with tractors or what ever. Again, I feel this whole motivation is without merit, spiteful, and dictatorial.
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Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 4, 2006 9:41 UTC (Wed) by kleptog (subscriber, #1183) [Link] Where does this "right to revoke" come from? You don't have the right to do anything, the Caterpiller violated your licence. If you don't like that effect, don't use that licence. Duh.
My real questions are:
1. Why would the people who made the tractor not want to give you the code? It doesn't matter to them at all, does it?
2. Why would they care if you changed the installed code? In your example I can't even see why they'd want to stop you making your own changes. Changes would void the warrenty obviously, but that's about it... What is this "signed bootloader" acheiving in the Caterpillar?
Similarly, I can't imagine why a TiVo-like device would want to stop you changing the userland GPL code. They control the kernel, so letting people do whatever they like in userspace seems like the obvious thing to do.
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 4, 2006 14:17 UTC (Wed) by sepreece (subscriber, #19270) [Link] Caterpillar would not want you to be able to modify the code in their device because if you did, and ran over somebody because the device failed in use, the victim and the driver might both choose to sue the manufacturer for liability in the accident. And they might very well win.
For Tivo there are two issues: (1) their contract with the content owners almost certainly requires them to make a good-faith effort to assure that there is no point where a user can get access to unencoded content and (2) if someone installed software that allowed them to copy content out and subsequently posted such content for sharing, Tivo might well be sued for liability for the claimed losses of the content owner(s).
Companies have to factor their potential liability into the cost of using components. If they believe the financial risk of using the components is unacceptable, they'll go elsewhere.
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 5, 2006 23:11 UTC (Thu) by svkelley (guest, #37299) [Link] Well said. And when companies go elsewhere, Linux loses.
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 7, 2006 14:35 UTC (Sat) by nim-nim (subscriber, #34454) [Link] Think it will fare any better if DRM is generalized?
Hint:
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 9, 2006 14:18 UTC (Mon) by malor (subscriber, #2973) [Link] I'm not sure whether or not this was sarcastic, but if a company doesn't choose Linux in its DRM-locked product, what does Linux lose, exactly?
You are willing to sacrifice your freedom for a few points of *market share*? WTF are you thinking? The whole point of an open source operating system is to be free, except when freedom would result in a few less locked-down systems running it?
Yes, requiring DRM keys will reduce Linux's market share. But the whole point of a free-software operating system is that market share doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. You're giving away the one thing in the whole deal that really matters for a shiny but meaningless bauble.
I'll give you three beads and a blanket for Manhattan. Deal?
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 6, 2006 17:37 UTC (Fri) by spitzak (guest, #4593) [Link] That's nonsense. Caterpillar would win the case, as you modified their device without their authorization!
Why would they care if you change the code? Posted Oct 6, 2006 19:01 UTC (Fri) by sepreece (subscriber, #19270) [Link] Most companies are willing to go to significant lengths to lower the probabilities. Juries do sometimes do things you would not expect. The cost of going to law are substantial, even if you win.
I can say that I know of design decisions taken specifically to avoid liability potential, over things with much less potential impact that replacing major parts of the operating software.
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