Re: Open source software developers sue Verizon; Claim FiOS violates GPL

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat net>
Date: December 12, 2007 1:24:44 PM EST
To: dave () farber net, ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Open source software developers sue Verizon; Claim  
FiOS violates GPL

Dave:

For IP, if you will.

What Verizon is distributing -- interestingly enough -- is merely the  
updated firmware for an Actiontec modem. Verizon didn't develop the  
firmware, does not have the source code, and probably doesn't have the  
RIGHTS to any of the source code. It's merely posting the updated  
firmware for the convenience of its users.

This seems to be a good example of overreaching by the FSF and the  
GPL. Suppose a dealer sells a product -- say, a network router -- that  
happens to contain some GPLed code. Restricting it from posting the  
latest firmware (to which it won't have the source; it didn't develop  
the firmware at all) is detrimental to it and to its users, and runs  
counter to the very "freedom" to use the software which advocates of  
the GPL claim is so important. This is one of the detrimental  
consequences -- intended or unintended -- of a license which is  
(misleadingly, IMHO) claimed to be "free" but in fact is severely  
restrictive.

--Brett Glass


> Open source software developers sue Verizon; Claim FiOS violates GPL
> Information Week
> By Paul McDougall
>
> In what could become a major test case for the most widely used open
> source software license, a group that represents open source
> developers has sued Verizon Communications -- claiming that the
> telecom giant's FiOS broadband service violates the terms of the GNU
> General Public License.



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