Netfilter gets a GPL-enforcement injunction [LWN.net]

Netfilter gets a GPL-enforcement injunction

Posted Apr 15, 2004 22:07 UTC (Thu) by neoprene (guest, #8520)
In reply to: Netfilter gets a GPL-enforcement injunction by QuisUtDeus
Parent article: Netfilter gets a GPL-enforcement injunction

>If I help someone maintain a system with Linux on it and write custom scripts and build customized kernel configurations or maybe custom kernel modules, am I expected to provide the world all the source needed to recreate that custom system? If I turn this into a replicateable setup that I offer to others, does the expectation change?<

Is this _distribution_? If so, read the GPL carefully.

>I just don't see the connection between selling pre-fitted hardware packages with Linux in them to a limited group of clients and making the source code available to everyone, even those that didn't buy the hardware package. If the source is already available in the well-known places, do they need to distribute it as well?<

"Selling" a product is obviously distribution. Why don't you decompile Microsoft Windoze and use choice pieces for your product and sell it. See if Microsoft gets interested. Embedded or not, its code

>If vendors are harassed too much by Linux people, they may develop hard feelings and stop helping as much as do (or don't) now...<

If "vendors" wants to use code they did not produce themselves they should look into the licensing terms.
GPL is _NOT_ "public domain" free-for-all grab-what-U-want and sell it.
The GPL specifically was written to avoid the BSD black hole.
If "vendors" want to sell their junk to me it better has a Penguin on it first, else it will stay on the shelf. If hardware makers don't at least provide information for the Open Source community to build drivers from they will not sell much [like zero] of their stuff to a growing Linux market.

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