Re: [Vectorlinux-devel] GPL Issues surrounding Mepis and the can of worms he opened.

[Sriram D. <sri...@gm...>]

OK here is the situation.
 There are some components, like binary codecs, windoze wireless drivers,
gfx drivers,  which are not safe to use for distribution.
VL will continue to remain a useful OS without those components also.
Ubuntu does not come with a codec pack by default either, we have to follow
a customization guide or follow the EasyBuntu guide.
So we can follow that approach and be safe.

Also Should some crackpot decide to sue , they can only sue the DISTRO .. as
an organization, not us as individuals.
Even If it does come to the individuals.. We can clearly identify who will
be responsible to take the blame.   And we dont have to be on that list if
we dont want to.

For example, if you create the VL6Base, and Kocil creates the new
installer/packaging system.  You two are in no way responsible for the
binary drivers getting to teh end user.

If i make the final ISO with the binary drivers, if some one sues, they have
to sue me. not you or Kocil;
This way, we can proceed with the distro.

Personally im not in VL for financial benefit.  I dont mind being on the
line to be sued either. Becasue im going to take precautions to make sure i
cannot be sued. Atleast that way those who only do development work need not
worry.

putting it on a public repository is not the same as distribution.

cheers
ram





On 7/7/06, hanumizzle <han...@gm...> wrote:
>
> On 7/6/06, Tony Brijeski <tb...@gm...> wrote:
> > Yes but Novell, Redhat, and the other bigger ones can afford to find out
> in
> > court - I can't and won't.
> >
> > As soon as we "distribute" it to the VL repo, we are in the same boat as
> any
> > other commercial distro and are liable for the same reason.
>
> All the IP problems you've identified so far are not inherent problems
> of the distro, just particular pieces of software. I think it would be
> a bit of a pain to download the w32 dll codecs separately, but I am
> certain those who appreciate this distro are willing to put in that
> effort to stay legal.
>
> > Sadly, it has become a mess.  Not only are we attacked from the outside
> but
> > the kernel devs now.  If this all unfolds as it is starting to, linux
> will
> > be locked in to strictly be a server OS and that is where the money is
> > anyway so I'm not sure the paid kernel devs really care since that is
> what
> > is driving linux on a larger scale.
>
> On a larger scale for now.
>
> > Even consultation with a lawyer doesn't prevent legal actions from being
> > started and then you must defend yourself.
>
> I think they would probably issue a cease and desist first.
>
> > Just look at the whole IBM/SCO fiasco.
>
> SCO are a joke.
>
> > The negatives now outweigh the positives.  Those of you that reside
> outside
> > the US and Canada are pretty much immune to all of this but for those of
> us
> > that live here, the threat is a real possibility.
>
> What weight do US software patent laws hold in Canada? I will be
> seeking expatriation myself, somewhere where this idiocy does not
> prevail. So all the loser goth kids who went to high school with me --
> and software patent holders -- can both munch on a bowl of my ...
> while I drink lassi and shoot the shiznit on IRC.
>
> > I predict that if SCO is
> > even minutely successful against IBM, there will be a whole slew of new
> > lawsuits coming and look how long the IBM/SCO lawsuit has been going on.
>
> They've consistently lost up to this point, and made complete asses
> out of themselves.
>
> --
> Remember that time Thotsakan punched Neil Bush in the dick?
>
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