> > OK. Now I understand what you were referring to. But I think that what I
> > propose has nothing to do with Tivoization, because our signature would
> not
> > be hardware checked but software checked, which means that anybody would
> be
> > free to modify the app and skip the check if they wish. In fact, this is
> > what the GPL FAQ says (
> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GiveUpKeys):
> >
>
> The FAQ says that; the licence does not. The FAQ is quite specific,
> while the licence itself is quite vague -- presumably, deliberately
> so, to cover unforeseen circumstances, and/or to try to prevent
> lawyers from finding ways to argue around it: "hardware" is not
> mentioned in that section; what might be considered "hardware" for
> purposes of the FAQ might not be hardware in reality.
>
> Nobody applies the terms of the GPL3 _FAQ_ to their code, and there is
> no reasonable basis to assume, in the case of divergence, that
> additional clarifications could or would apply, if the licensor has
> not provided them.
>

I get your point. So I've read the actual license... and now I am even more
convinced of my position.

If I'm not wrong this is the restriction that you were referring to: "If
you convey an object code work under this section in, or with, or
specifically for use in, a User Product, [...] the Corresponding Source
conveyed under this section must be accompanied by the Installation
Information". I can think of at least two reasons why that wouldn't force
us to release our private key:

1) We don't convey the transfer bytecode "in" or "with" anything. It might
be arguable if we convey it "specifically for use in" our app, but then an
app does not fit the definition of a "User Product" (it is neither (1)
"tangible" nor (2) "designed or sold for incorporation into a dwelling").
It is true that the transfer bytecode ultimately runs in a user product,
but for obvious reasons that applies to practically any software that I can
think of. But, as I see it, it is not true that we would convey the
transfer bytecode "specifically for use in" any given user product: the
bytecode could be run in a variety of devices (smartphones, tablets, TVs,
PCs...), a variety of architectures (android runs in at least ARM, x86 and
MIPS) and potentially a variety of apps (possibly even some that would not
verify the bytecode's signature).

2) Even if you are able to refute my first point (and you probably are
;-)), we would only be forced to publish the "Installation Information".
According to the license, “Installation Information for a User Product
means any methods, procedures, authorization keys, or other information
required to install and execute modified versions of a covered work in that
User Product from a modified version of its Corresponding Source. The
information must suffice to ensure that the continued functioning of the
modified object code is in no case prevented or interfered with solely
because modification has been made.". As said before, our app doesn't fit
the definition of a user product. And if we take the android device as the
user product, then giving instructions on how to modify the app so that it
can run unsigned language pairs would be enough to fulfil the requirement.

I also think that it would be convenient to clarify whether the app and the
language pair(s) can be considered as two separated pieces of software for
this matter and, if so, the license of which of them would we be violating
according to you.

In any case, I guess that this thread was not meant to discuss about
licensing... If people here don't like my idea and/or don't think that we
should address the security issue in question then there is no need to have
this discussion here.
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