Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sat, 17 May 2008 00:32:06 +0200 | From | FD Cami <> | Subject | Re: GPL Violation: Compro Technology Inc, 2.6.17 modified binary-only kernel distribution |
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(adding gpl-violations.org in CC)
-- fdc
On Fri, 16 May 2008 23:00:12 +0100 Jo Shields <directhex@apebox.org> wrote:
> Hi, > > I've discovered a GPL violation by Taiwanese TV card manufacturer Compro > Technology. > > On their site, they are offering a "driver" for Mandriva > Linux 2007.1, in the form of an 18 meg "linux.rpm"[1,2,3,4]. This > "driver" is, in fact, an entire kernel image (from snd-emu10k1.ko to > libata.ko, with everything in between), generated from Mandriva's kernel > source package, with local modifications to at least two files (major > file size gap between Compro and Mandriva kernels in tuner.ko and > cx88xx.ko). > > Their "driver" is being offered in binary-only form, without any > accompanying license, and I have received no replies to a formal request > for source after 2 (Taiwanese) working days. Obviously, this violates > several GPL clauses, and infringes on the rights of every kernel > developer with code in 2.6.17. > > It is also the opinion of a LinuxTV developer with whom I've been > discussing the matter that their modified drivers appear to contain > large un-redistributable portions of code from a chip vendor's > proprietary SDK, but we obviously can't adequately check this with > only .ko files to work with. > > They appear to be offering a similar "driver" for Fedora Core 6, which > is non-functional, presumably due to a failed upload (cpio fails to > extract the rpm)[4,5]. > > I'm not 100% certain what my next step should be, so I decided this was > the best place to give a public airing. One suggestion I've had > suggested is to file a DMCA takedown notice with their (US-based) ISP, > but I've no idea whether it's the right stage to do something like that, > nor do I have any claim to any code contained in the kernel. At any > rate, I wanted to make the kernel developers informed of this discovery. > > I'm not on this mailing list, so a CC: would be appreciated. > > --Jo Shields > > > [1] http://www.comprousa.com/downloadfiles/linux.rpm > [2] http://www.comprousa.com/en/download/sseries.html > [3] http://www.comprousa.com/en/download/tseries.html > [4] http://www.comprousa.com/en/download/xseries.html > [5] http://www.comprousa.com/downloadfiles/kernel-2618prep-3i386.rpm >
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