On Mar 3, 2005, at 9:35 AM, Cory Petkovsek wrote:
Also, OpenWRT is GPL and they recognize that. SveaSoft is GPL by default,
however they don't seem to recognize that. They have sent threatening emails
to one guy in particular who is redistributing their GPL code.
That is, at least, a misrepresentation of the situation.
He was redistributing *prerelease* code that SveaSoft *had not yet released*. GPL or no, companies do not have to provide source code for software that they do not release.
In addition, if I remember correctly, the full amount of threats consisted of terminating the offender's subscription to SveaSoft. Severing a business association is an action which most businesses are allowed to do for just about any reason
Now, SveaSoft may be jerks. You can decide not to deal with them because they are jerks (I consider this to be a good idea). However, I have not seen anyone from GNU decide to take action against SveaSoft, and the only letter about this that I have seen from anyone at GNU seems to indicate that SveaSoft may be within the letter of the law even if not the spirit.
The situation is far from as clear as you make it seem. However, if you can provide a letter from the GNU guys saying to the contrary, I would be willing to change my mind.
-a
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