Open Source

[Gesslar]

Hi guys, this is just a generic thread for people who want to discuss Open Source topics that may not merit a whole new individual thread. Things like news and developments in the OSS arena.

I know there are some people who use OSS on their PCs and maybe even some of them might even care about the OSS model.

[Gesslar]

GPL win!

BusyBox is a lightweight set of standard Unix utilities commonly used in embedded systems and is open source software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. One of the conditions of the GPL is that re-distributors of BusyBox are required to ensure that each downstream recipient is provided access to the source code of the program. Monsoon Multimedia uses BusyBox in its HAVA TV place-shifting devices.

As a result of the plaintiffs agreeing to dismiss the lawsuit and reinstate Monsoon Multimedia's rights to distribute BusyBox under the GPL, Monsoon Multimedia has agreed to appoint an Open Source Compliance Officer within its organization to monitor and ensure GPL compliance, to publish the source code for the version of BusyBox it previously distributed on its Web site, and to undertake substantial efforts to notify previous recipients of BusyBox from Monsoon Multimedia of their rights to the software under the GPL. The settlement also includes an undisclosed amount of financial consideration paid by Monsoon Multimedia to the plaintiffs.

Ok, not a win through the courts, per se, but still a win in my books.

Here's the link:http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/...on-settlement/

[Rosuav]

Fascinating. Just imagine being the "Open Source Compliance Officer".... what a job. Going around everywhere just saying "Make sure you release the source. Make sure you release the source." Can't they do it without appointing someone to a position?

[Gesslar]

Apparently, not without a pending lawsuit.