Do you have a question? Post it now! No Registration Necessary

Re: GPL vs. NDA dilemma

So IMHO the real problem is whether selling "products" (embedded
devices) that internally use software (i.e. binaries hidden somewhere in
the device and not extractable with normal means) can be seen as
_distributing_binaries_.
Diabolic question: if I send a binary to a customer in a sealed
envelope, do I distribute it to the _postman_ wo carries the envelope ?

Re: GPL vs. NDA dilemma

Very much so. Anyone who uses the board is using the GPL'd code (or
has the potential to). A postman merely transports the media - he
doesn't use the code.

If they didn't they would be breaking contract law, and could have
damages against them by the copyright holders as well as being forced
to recall all their products, advertise to their customers, open up
all their source code, etc.etc. You could also be criminally prosecuted
under any anti-piracy laws in your country: breaking the EULA of a
shrink-wrapped proprietary product is no different than breaking that of
a GPL'd product IMHO.
The GPL is quite clear... if you distribute a binary based on the code
you *must* accompany with it the source code, or an offer to receive
the source code (or alternatively the offer you received to get the
source code, assuming you didn't make any modifications). So the
recipients *must* be informed.
Jifl
--
--[ "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you ]--
--[ can rejoice because thorns have roses." -Lincoln ]-- Opinions==mine
--[ "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you ]--
--[ can rejoice because thorns have roses." -Lincoln ]-- Opinions==mine

Re: GPL vs. NDA dilemma
I once asked this during a discussion on GPL.
The result was quite clear: GPL requests that you offer to deliver the
unrestricted source code with the binaries. Responsible for the
procedure is the one who delivers the binaries.
You _do_ deliver the source code to _your_ contractor.
If _he_ refuses to deliver your source code to the clients _he_ delivers
binaries made from your source code to, or tries to restrict them from
redistributing it, _he_ is violating the GPL.
-Michael
The result was quite clear: GPL requests that you offer to deliver the
unrestricted source code with the binaries. Responsible for the
procedure is the one who delivers the binaries.
You _do_ deliver the source code to _your_ contractor.
If _he_ refuses to deliver your source code to the clients _he_ delivers
binaries made from your source code to, or tries to restrict them from
redistributing it, _he_ is violating the GPL.
-Michael
Site Timeline
- » Re: SIRF Chipset with ARM and linux?
- — Next thread in » Embedded Linux
-
- » Linux support for PC/104 PROFIBUS-DP (master/slave 12Mb/s) and INTERBUS controllers
- — Previous thread in » Embedded Linux
-
- » Crosscompiling for ARM: reloc type R_ARM_ABS32 is not supported for PIC - ...
- — Newest thread in » Embedded Linux
-
- » Replacement for 741
- — The site's Newest Thread. Posted in » Electronics Design
-
- » Esp32 Oled Development Tool - come si programmano ?
- — The site's Last Updated Thread. Posted in » Electronics Hobby (Italian)
-