|
Linking copy-protection code into Asterisk would violate
the GPL, which requires you to distribute the source code of all
modifications. But I see no problem whatsoever in embedding protections in other
parts of the system, for example a custom binary "init" that might run its
checks at boot time before passing control to the /etc/rc script... Or even
modify Asterisk's binary to communicate, e.g. through sockets, with a separate
closed-source copy protection process running in background. In that case you
should only distribute the source code of the modifications to Asterisk, not of
the copy-protection enforcement daemon. Sure, a skilled buyer could restore the
original Asterisk, but that's probably going to cost them more in
reverse-engineering efforts than what they would save cutting you
off...
Cheers --
Enzo
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 9:45
AM
Subject: [Astlinux-users] OT: Ethics
question
One company approached ours and asked for an embedded solution.
4FXS, no big deal. However that company has access to a potential market were
a few dozen boxes (or even more) can be sold using a special contract. We know
that this company wants to have the solution built by us so he can copy it
later in terms of hardware, software, etc so we are bypassed, By means of
contacting the providers of the hardware and buying directly (example soekris,
via,etc).
The whole point is that he knows nothing about asterisk or
embedded systems and he is clearly focused on stealing all the setup we have
done.
Is it ethical to create a simple program that reads something
like the processor serial number, bury the program who knows where inside an
init script (or even compile a C call to that binary inside asterisk) , so
even if he can duplicate our box, he cannot "make it work" because something
like the serial, wont match?
I ask this because we are not preventing
that company to learn asterisk, embedded systems, etc and rolling their
own....but, well, his intentions are so obvious.....and since everything is
GPLed......
has anyone faced such situation?
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Erick
Perez
Panama Sistemas
Integradores de Telefonia IP y Soluciones Para
Centros de Datos
Panama, Republica de Panama
Cel Panama. +(507)
6694-4780
------------------------------------------------------------
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