Open Source Abuse

[JustSomeJoe]

Hi All,
I recently had an interview with a company which I strongly suspect is using open source software as a significant part of a commercial product range, this is without any acreditation to the original authors.

From what I saw, their main product range is Linux based (probably Ubuntu), it also uses a number of media server and codec packages, all well hidden behind a custom UI.

What would you do?
Would you keep quiet, or report it?

 

[amdfangirl]

Wait is this just the Linux kernel or the actual OS?

...but still under the open source license, this can't be allowed... try posting it to a news site or something... maybe Phoronix?

 

[JustSomeJoe]

From what I saw it was a full OS with some custom software added; problem is without getting a copy, there's no way of proving it.

Having had some of my own work ripped-off some years back, it really gets to me when I see a company (which appears to be) leaching off the open source comunity without giving anything back.

 

[audiovoodoo]

You could try dropping a mail to the Free Software Foundation. They seem to be the people that bring in the legal teams in these sorts of situations. Certainly if you have strong impressions of shenanigans then you should let them know.

 

[bmouring]

+1 for bringing it to the attention of the FSF. This sounds like it could be similar to the Linksys/Cisco WRT54G-using-Linux-andBusybox fiasco, which saw support of the GPL thanks to the efforts of some kernel hackers and the FSF. If what you say is true and they are convinced that it sounds like an infringement, they'll likely get in touch with the company to start sorting it out.

 

[JustSomeJoe]

Just to keep you folks updated...
I have emailed FSF twice in the past week to ask for advice on the best way to proceed and what information they would require to investigate, to date there has been no reply...

I'll try once more early next week (when I get 5 minutes)...

 

[audiovoodoo]

Full marks for effort and thanks for letting us have an update. I'll be interested to see where it ends up heading.

+5 Open Source defender bonus.

 

[JustSomeJoe]

On a slight tangent (but still related) to this thread:
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/10/17/open-source-licence-violations
Nothing to do with me (wish it was), Just thought it might be of interest.

 

[audiovoodoo]

Maybe you could forward him a copy of the mail you sent to the FSF? It's right up the guys street. (his mail is on the front of the PDF linked in the article.)

 

[JustSomeJoe]

Just another update...
I finally received a reply from FSF, it was a general "here's a link to our FAQ" reply.

Not impressed!

 

[linux_0]

They probably get a lot of mail and don't have enough people to personally respond to all emails

It sure would be nice if they could confirm they got your mail and will look at it when they can