FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL [LWN.net]

FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

Posted Jun 11, 2010 14:28 UTC (Fri) by Lefty (guest, #51528)
In reply to: FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL by farnz
Parent article: FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

This is an accurate analysis of the situation. No, there's nothing much the FSF could "do" to Apple, on a couple of grounds. In addition to their being in a situation of inadvertent infringement, there's no revenue associated with GNUgo, either for the FSF or for Apple (since the program was given away for free).

The FSF cannot argue that Apple has damaged them in any way: the source code was publicly available, Apple never made a dime on GNUgo, and the FSF never lost one. All they could get (in an optimistic world) would be a judge's order to take the app down, which Apple's already done. (I wonder whether the FSF could get a contempt charge for bringing a frivolous lawsuit. Quite possibly, I think.)

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FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

Posted Jun 11, 2010 15:40 UTC (Fri) by rahulsundaram (subscriber, #21946) [Link]

http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance

"In most ways, this is a typical enforcement action for the FSF: we want to resolve this situation as amicably as possible. We have not sued Apple, nor have we sent them any legal demand that they remove the programs from the App Store."

There was no lawsuit. You seem to be engaged in wishful thinking and speculation and basing your arguments on your dislike of FSF. Apple has zero grounds for a contempt charge based on a mere license violation notice.

FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

Posted Jun 23, 2010 18:44 UTC (Wed) by jospoortvliet (subscriber, #33164) [Link]

But they were talking to apple, and decided to not wait for the results but publicly damn them. I think that's stupid - esp considering the talks were (some ppl said) constructive.

FSF takes on Apple's App Store over GPL

Posted Jun 23, 2010 19:05 UTC (Wed) by rahulsundaram (subscriber, #21946) [Link]

You are free to criticize their approach and they have cited their reasons for taking this approach and outcome was going to be exactly the same regardless of the approach in this case but nevertheless lefty who really should be knowing better is making an incorrect claim about a lawsuit. That is a dent on his credibility.