it's called infringement
it's called infringement
Posted Sep 26, 2007 3:00 UTC (Wed) by grouch (guest, #27289)In reply to: Chill out.. by mheily
Parent article: Monsoon Multimedia gives in on GPL
Since Monsoon isn't going to release their proprietary video streaming software under the GPL, I fail to see how access to the modified BusyBox sources will be useful to anyone.
By that reasoning, there has never been a need for free software, at least, in your world.
Monsoon is infringing copyright. Monsoon pledges to continue their infringement for some indeterminate time. Unless and until the copyright owners magnanimously forgive Monsoon's past and continuing infringement, Monsoon is subject to severe remedies. You might want to read those along with the complaint that was filed.
While compliance is the ultimate goal of RMS, the FSF, Eben Moglen and gpl-violations.org, this is not a requirement imposed on all who choose to place their work under the GPL. Even though the BusyBox developers have the legal right to press their case against the admitted infringer, and their Hall of Shame page gives reason enough for their patience to be thin, their intent appears to be to obtain compliance:
"Free software licenses such as the GPL exist to protect the freedom of computer users. If we don't ensure that these licenses are respected, then they will not be able to achieve their goal," said Eben Moglen, Founding Director of SFLC. "Our goal is simply to ensure that Monsoon Multimedia complies with the terms of the GPL."
I hope Prof. Moglen's comment is sufficient to explain how access to the source is useful. If not, please read Copyleft: Pragmatic Idealism by Richard Stallman.