Please explain your statement that lack of root violates GPLv3. Couldn't the owner of the system insert a SD card with a developer's version of Linux, mount the internal drive of the XO, and tinker with the installed packages as root from the external OS? Does GPLv3 expressly mention root access?
I think Ubuntu disables root logins, but allows sudo access for root permissions. Is that a violation of the GPLv3? On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 2:32 AM, John Gilmore <g...@toad.com> wrote: > > > Ignoring the fact that some deployments ship without root access. > > > > Is the practice of completely locking-down the laptops something we'd > > even want to encourage? > > Shipping the laptops TiVoized like Uruguay does has put them into serious > legal trouble. OLPC should definitely not encourage anybody else to do > this. > Why bankrupt your project by losing a copyright enforcement lawsuit? > > Shipping the laptops without root access is a direct violation of the > GPLv3 license on a dozen packages (probably 50+ packages in later > Fedoras). They have shipped binaries, while using technological means > to deny the recipient the practical ability to upgrade or replace them > with versions modified or chosen by the recipient. > > Only an idiot would distribute hundreds of thousands of units while > setting themselves up to pay the Free Software Foundation any amount > of money they demand. (Given the way OLPC and Uruguay have > ignored the notice that they're in violation, for years, I do hope FSF > extracts both future compliance, and its next ten years of operating > expenses, from these scofflaws.) > > Or does Uruguay think, "Sue us for copyright violation in our own > courts -- we'll make sure you lose"?? In other words, do they > just brazenly steal the GNU Project's software, knowing it's wrong? > > John Gilmore > > _______________________________________________ > Devel mailing list > Devel@lists.laptop.org > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/devel >
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