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Case-Study-Ethics/case-study-ethics.tex
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@ -30,8 +30,7 @@
\vspace{.5in}
{\Large {\sc GPL Compliance Case Studies and Legal Ethics in Free Software
Licensing } \\
{\Large {\sc GPL Compliance Case Studies} \\
\vspace{.7in}
@ -93,10 +92,6 @@ insights into problems that can arise when the terms of GPL are not
properly followed, and how diplomatic negotiation between the violator and
the copyright holder can yield positive results for both parties.
This course also includes a unit on the ethical considerations for
attorneys who want to represent clients that make use of or sell Free
Software products.
Attendees should have successfully completely the course, a ``Detailed
Study and Analysis of GPL and LGPL'', as the material from that course
forms the building blocks for this material.
@ -118,11 +113,11 @@ will also find the course very helpful.
\chapter{Overview of FSF's GPL Compliance Lab}
The GPL is a Free Software license with legal teeth. Unlike licenses like
the X11-style or various BSD licenses, GPL (and by extention, the LGPL) is
the X11-style or various BSD licenses, GPL (and by extension, the LGPL) is
designed to defend as well as grant freedom. We saw in the last course
that GPL uses copyright law as a mechanism to grant all the key freedoms
essential in Free Software, but also to ensure that those freedoms
propogate throughout the distribution chain of the software.
propagate throughout the distribution chain of the software.
\section{Termination Begins Enforcement}
@ -155,7 +150,7 @@ and distributing.
\section{Ongoing Violations}
In conjuction with \S 4's termination of violators' rights, there is one
In conjunction with \S 4's termination of violators' rights, there is one
final industry fact is added to the mix: rarely, does on engage in a
single, solitary act of copying, distributing or modifying software.
Almost always, a violator will have legitimately acquired a copy a GPL'd
@ -166,10 +161,10 @@ software was put up for download on the Internet. Regardless of the
delivery mechanism, violators almost always are engaged in {\em ongoing\/}
violation of GPL\@.
In fact, when we discover a GPL violation that occured only once --- for
In fact, when we discover a GPL violation that occurred only once --- for
example, a user group who distributed copies of a GNU/Linux system without
source at a meeting once --- we rarely pursue it with a high degree of
dilligence. In our minds, that is an educational problem, and unless the
diligence. In our minds, that is an educational problem, and unless the
user group becomes a repeat offender (as it turns out, the never do) we
simply send an FAQ entry that best explains how user groups can most
easily comply with GPL, and send them on there merry way.
@ -184,7 +179,7 @@ educate industries who are making a mistake on a large scale.
In addition, such ongoing violation shows that a particular company is
committed to a GPL'd product line. We are thrilled to learn that someone
is benefitting from Free Software, and we understand that sometimes they
is benefiting from Free Software, and we understand that sometimes they
have become confused about the rules of the road. Rather than merely
giving us a post mortem to perform on a past mistake, an ongoing violation
gives us an active opportunity to educate a new contributor the GPL'd
@ -200,52 +195,662 @@ contrast, we revel in the successes of educating an ongoing violator about
GPL so that GPL compliance becomes a second-nature matter, and they join
the GPL ecosystem as contributors.
\section{How are Violations Discovered?}
Our enforcement of GPL is not a fund-raising effort; in fact, FSF's GPL
compliance lab runs at a loss (in other words, it is subsided by our
donors). Our violation reports come from volunteers, who have encountered
in their business or personal life, a device or software product that
appears to contain GPL'd software; these reports are usually sent via
email to $<$license-violation@fsf.org$>$.
Our first order of business, upon receiving such a report, is to seek
independent confirmation. When possible, we get a copy of the software
product. For example, if it is an offering that is downloadable from a
website, we download it and investigate ourselves. When it is not
possible for us to actually get a copy of the software, we ask the
reporter to go through the same process we use in examining the software.
By rough estimation, about 95\% of violations at this stage can be
confirmed by simple commands. Since almost all violators have merely made
an error, and have no nefarious intentions, they have made no attempt to
remove our copyright notices from the software. Given the third-party
binary, {\tt tpb}, usually, a simple command (on a GNU/Linux system) such
as the following will find an Free Software copyright notice and GPL
reference:
\begin{quotation}
{\tt string tpb | grep Copyright}
\end{quotation}
In other words, it is usually more than trivial to confirm that GPL'd
software is included.
Once we have confirmed that a violation has indeed occurred, we must then
determine whose copyright has been violated. Contrary to popular belief,
FSF does not have the power to enforce GPL in all cases. Since GPL
operates under copyright law, the powers of enforcement --- to seek
redress once \S 4 has been invoked --- lies with the copyright holder of
the software. FSF is one of the largest copyright holders in the world
of GPL'd software, but we are by no means the only one. Thus, we
sometimes discover that while GPL'd code is present in the software,
there is no software copyrighted by FSF.
In cases where FSF does not hold copyright interest in the software, but
we have confirmed a violation, we contact the copyright holders of the
software, and encourage them to enforce GPL\@. We offer our good offices
to help negotiate compliance on their behalf, and many times we help as a
third party to settle such GPL violations. However, what we will
describe in this course is FSF's first-hand experience enforcing its own
copyrights and GPL\@.
\section{First Contact}
The Free Software community is built on a structure of voluntary
cooperation and mutual help.
cooperation and mutual help. Our community has learned that cooperation
works best when you assume the best of others, and only change policy,
procedures and attitudes when some specific event or occurrence indicates
that a change is necessary. We treat the process of GPL enforcement in
the same way; our goal is to encourage violators to join the cooperative
community of software sharing, so we want to open our hand in friendship
to them.
Therefore, once we have confirmed a violation, our first assumption is
that the violation is an oversight or otherwise a mistake due to confusion
about the terms of the license. We reach out to the violator and ask them
to work with us in a collaborative way to bring the product into
compliance. We have received the gamut of possible reactions to such
requests, and in this course, we examine four specific examples of such
compliance work.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Case Study A}
\chapter{Case Study: Davrik's Modified GCC}
In our first case study, we will consider Davrik, a company that produces
software and hardware toolkits to assist OEM vendors who products consumer
electronic devices.
\section{Facts}
One of Davrik's key products is a Software Development Kit (``SDK'')
designed to assist developers building software for a specific class of
consumer electronics devices.
FSF received a report that the SDK may be based on the GNU Compiler
Collection (which is an FSF-copyrighted collection of tools for software
development in C, C++ and other popular languages). FSF investigated the
claim, but was unable to confirm the violation. The violation reporter
was unresponsive to follow-up requests for more information.
Since FSF was unable to confirm the violation, we did not pursue it any
further. Bogus reports do happen, and we do not want to burden companies
with specious GPL violation complaints. FSF shelved the matter until
more evidence was discovered.
FSF was later able to confirm the violation when two additional reports
surfaced from other violation reports, both of whom had used the product
professional and noticed clear similarities to FSF's GNU GCC\@. FSF's
Compliance Engineer asked the reporters to run standard tests to confirm
the violation, and it was confirmed that the product was indeed a
derivative work of GCC, ported to Windows and with a number of features
added, including support for a specific consumer device chipset and
additional features to aid in the linking process (``LP'') for the
specific devices. FSF explained the rights that the GPL afforded these
customers and pointed out, for example, that Davrik only needed to provide
source to those in possession of the binaries, and that the users may need
to request that source (if \S 3(b) was exercised). The violators
confirmed that such requests were not answered.
FSF brought the matter to the attention of Davrik, who immediately
escalated the matter to their attorneys. After a long negotiation, Davrik
acknowledged that their SDK was indeed a derivative work of GCC\@. Davrik
released most of the source, but some disagreement occurred over whether LP
was a derivate work of GCC\@. After repeated FSF inquiries, Davrik
reaudited the source and discovered that FSF's analysis was correct and
determined that LP include a number of source files copied from the GCC
code-base.
\label{davrik-build-problems}
Once the full software release was made available, FSF asked the
violation reporters if it addressed the problem. Reports came back that
in fact the source did not properly build. FSF asked Davrik to provide
better build instructions with the software, and such build instructions
were incorporated into the next software release.
At FSF's request as well, Davrik informed customers who had previously
purchased the product that the source was now available, by announcing
the available on its website and via a customer newsletter.
Davrik did have some concerns regarding patents. They wished to include a
statement with the software release that made sure they were not granting
any patent permission other than what was absolutely required by GPL\@.
They understood that their patent assertions could not trump any rights
granted by GPL\@. The following language was negotiated to be included
with the release:
\begin{quotation}
Subject to the qualifications stated below, Davrik, on behalf of itself
and its Subsidiaries, agrees not to assert the Claims against you for your
making, use, offer for sale, sale, or importation of the Davrik's GNU
Utilities or derivative works of the Davrik's GNU Utilities
("Derivatives"), but only to the extent that any such Derivatives are
licensed by you under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The
Claims are the claims of patents that Davrik or its Subsidiaries have
standing to enforce that are directly infringed by the making, use, or
sale of an Davrik Distributed GNU Utilities in the form it was distributed
by Davrik and that do not include any limitation that reads on hardware;
the Claims do not include any additional patent claims held by Davrik that
cover any modifications of, derivative works based on or combinations with
the Davrik's GNU Utilities, even if such a claim is disclosed in the same
patent as a Claim. Subsidiaries are entities that are wholly owned by
Davrik.
This statement does not negate, limit or restrict any rights you already
have under the GNU General Public License, Version 2.
\end{quotation}
This quelled Davrik's concerns about other patent licensing they sought to
do outside of the GPL'd software, and satisfied FSF's concerns that they
give no permissions to exercise teachings of patents that were not already
exercised in their GPL'd software release.
Finally, a GPL Compliance Officer inside Davrik was appointed who is
responsible for all matters of GPL Compliance inside the company. Darvik
is responsible for informing FSF if the position is given to someone else
inside the company, and making sure that FSF has direct contact
information with Darvik's Compliance Officer.
\section{Lessons}
This case introduces a number of concepts regarding GPL enforcement.
\begin{enumerate}
\item {\bf Enforcement should not begin until the evidence is confirmed.}
Most companies who distribute GPL'd software do so in compliance, and at
times, violation reports are mistaken. Even with extensive efforts in
GPL education, many users do not fully understand their rights and the
obligations that companies have. By working through the investigation
with reporters, the violation can be properly confirmed, and {\bf the
user of the software can be educated about what to expect as a user}.
When users and customers of GPL'd products know their rights, what to
expect, and how to properly exercise their rights (particularly under \S
3(b)), it reduces the chances for user frustration and inappropriate
community outcry about an alleged GPL violation.
\item {\bf GPL compliance requires friendly negotiation and
cooperation.} Often, attorneys and managers are legitimately surprised
to find out GPL'd software is included in their company's products.
Engineers sometimes include GPL'd software without understanding the
requirements. This does not excuse companies from their obligations
under the license, but it does mean that care and patience are
essential for reaching GPL compliance. We want companies to understand
that participating and benefiting from a collaborative Free Software
community is not a burden, so we strive to make the process of coming
into compliance when a problem occurs as smooth as possible.
\item {\bf Confirming compliance is a community effort.} The whole point
of making sure that software distributors respect the terms of GPL is to
allow a thriving software sharing community to benefit and improve the
work. FSF are not the experts on how a compiler for consumer electronic
devices should work. We therefore inform the community who originally
brought the violation to our attention and ask them to assist in
evaluation and confirmation of the product's compliance. Of course, FSF
coordinates and oversees the process, but we do not want compliance for
compliance's sake; rather, we wish to foster a cooperating community of
development around the Free Software in question, and encourage the
once-violator to begin participating in that community.
\item {\bf Informing the harmed community is part of compliance.} FSF asks
violators to make some attempt --- such as via newsletters and the
company's website --- to inform those who already have the products as
to their rights under GPL\@. One of the key thrusts of GPL's \S 1 and
\S 3 is to {\em make sure the user knows he has these rights\/}. If a
product was received out of compliance by a customer, they may never
actually discover that they had such rights. Informing them, in a way
that is not burdensome but has a high probability of successfully
reaching those who would seek to exercise their freedoms, is essential
to properly remedy the mistake.
\item {\bf Lines between various copyright, patent, and other legal
mechanisms must be precisely defined and considered.} The most
difficult negotiation point of this compliance case was drafting
language that simultaneously protected the Davrik's patent rights
outside of the GPL'd source, but was consistent with the implicit patent
grant in GPL\@. As we discussed in the first course in this series,
there is indeed an implicit patent grant with GPL, thanks to \S 6 and \S
7. However, many companies become nervous and wish to make the grant
explicit to assure themselves that the grant is sufficiently narrow for
their needs. We understand that there is no reasonable way to determine
what patent claims read on a company's GPL holdings and which do not, so
we do not object to general language that explicitly narrows the patent
grant to only those patents that were, in fact, exercised by the GPL'd
software as released by the company.
\end{enumerate}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Case Study B}
\chapter{Bracken: a Minor Violation in a GNU/Linux Distribution}
Bracken produces a GNU/Linux operating system product that is sold
primarily to OEM vendors to be placed in appliance devices that are used
for a single purpose, such as an Internet-browsing-only device. The
product is almost 100\% Free Software, mostly licensed under GPL and
related Free Software licenses.
FSF found out about this violation through a report first posted in a
comment on a Slashdot\footnote{Slashdot is a popular news and discussion
site for technical readers.} comment, and then later brought to our
attention by another Free Software copyright holder who had discovered the
same violation.
Bracken's GNU/Linux product is delivered directly from their website.
This allowed FSF engineers to directly download and confirm the violation
quickly. It was discovered that there were two primary problems with the
online distribution:
\begin{itemize}
\item No source code nor offer for source code was provided for a number
of components for the distributed GNU/Linux system; only binaries were
available.
\item An End User License Agreement (``EULA'') was included that
contradicted the permissions granted by GPL\@.
\end{itemize}
FSF contacted Bracken and gave them the details of the violation. Bracken
immediately ceased distribution of the product temporarily, and set forth
a plan to bring themselves back into compliance. This plan included the
following steps:
\begin{itemize}
\item Bracken attorneys would rewrite the EULA to comply with GPL, and
would vet the new EULA through FSF before use.
\item Bracken engineers would provide source side-by-side with the
binaries for the GNU/Linux distribution on the site (and on CD's, if
ever they distributed that way).
\item Bracken attorneys would run an internal seminar for its engineers
regarding GPL proper compliance, to help ensure that such oversights
regarding source releases would not occur in the future.
\item Bracken would resume distribution of the product only after FSF
formally restored Bracken's distribution rights.
\end{itemize}
This work was completed in the matter of about a month. FSF approved the
new EULA text. They key portion in the EULA relating to GPL read as
follows:
\begin{quotation}
Many of the Software Programs included in Bracken Software are distributed
under the terms of agreements with Third Parties (``Third Party
Agreements'') which may expand or limit the Licensee's rights to use
certain Software Programs as set forth in [this EULA]. Certain Software
Programs may be licensed (or sublicensed) to Licensee under the GNU
General Public License and other similar license agreements listed in part
in this section which, among other rights, permit the Licensee to copy,
modify and redistribute certain Software Programs, or portions thereof,
and have access to the source code of certain Software Programs, or
portions thereof. In addition, certain Software Programs, or portions
thereof, may be licensed (or sublicensed) to Licensee under terms stricter
than those set forth in [this EULA]. The Licensee must review the
electronic documentation that accompanies certain Software Programs, or
portions thereof, for the applicable Third Party Agreements. To the
extent any Third Party Agreements require that Bracken provide rights to
use, copy or modify a Software Program that are broader than the rights
granted to the Licensee in [this EULA], then such rights shall take
precedence over the rights and restrictions granted in this Agreement
solely for such Software Programs.
\end{quotation}
FSF restored Bracken's distribution rights shortly after the work was
completed as described.
\section{Lessons Learned}
This case was probably them most quickly and easily resolved of all GPL
violations in the history of FSF's Compliance Lab. The ease with which
the problem was resolved shows a number of cultural factors that play a
role in GPL compliance.
\begin{enumerate}
\item {\bf Companies that understand Free Software culture better have an
easier time with compliance.} Bracken's products were designed and
build around the GNU/Linux system and Free Software components. Their
engineers were deeply familiar with the Free Software ecosystem, and
their lawyers had seen and reviewed GPL before. The violation was
completely an honest mistake, and since the culture inside the company
had already adapted to the cooperative style of resolution to problems
in the Free Software world, there was very little work for either
party to bring the product into compliance.
\item {\bf When people in key positions understand the Free Software
nature of their software products, compliance concerns are as mundane as
minor software bugs.} Even the most functional system or structure has
its problems, and successful business often depends on agile response to
the problems that do come up; avoiding problems altogether is a pipe
dream. Minor GPL violations can and do happen even with well-informed
redistributors, but when the company --- and in particular, the lawyers,
managers, and engineers working on the Free Software product lines --
have adapted to the cooperate Free Software culture, resolving such
problems are merely a mundane details of typical operation and resolved
just as easily.
\item {\bf Legally, distribution must stop when a violation is
identified.} In our opinion, Bracken went above and beyond the call by
ceasing distribution while the violation was being resolved. Under GPL
\S 4, the redistributor loses the right to distribute the software, and
thus they are in ongoing violation of copyright law as they distribute.
It is FSF's policy to temporarily allow distribution while compliance
negotiations are ongoing and only in the most extreme cases where the
other party appears to be negotiating in bad faith does FSF even
threaten an injunction on copyright grounds. However, Bracken --- as a
good Free Software citizen --- chose to be on the safe side and do the
legally correct thing while the violation case was pending. Since from
start to finish it took less than am month to resolve, this lapse in
distribute did not, to FSF's knowledge, impact their business in any
way.
\item {\bf EULAs are a common area for GPL problems.} Often, EULAs are
drafted from boilerplate text that a company uses for all its products.
Even the most diligent attorneys forget or simply do not know that a
product contains software licensed under GPL and other Free Software
licenses. Drafting a EULA that accounts for such licenses is
straightforward; the text quoted above works just fine. The EULA must
be designed so that it does not trump and rights and permissions already
granted by GPL\@, and it must be certain that if there is a conflict
between EULA and GPL, with regard to GPL'd code, that the GPL is the
overriding license.
\item {\bf Compliance Officers are rarely necessary when companies are
educated about GPL compliance.} As we saw in the Davrik case, FSF asks
that a formal ``GPL Compliance Officer'' be appointed inside a
previously violating organization to shepherd the organization to a
cooperative approach with regard to GPL compliance. However, when FSF
sees that an organization already has such an approach, there is no
need to request that such an officer be appointed.
\end{enumerate}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Case Study C}
\chapter{Vigorien: Security, Export Controls, and GPL Compliance}
This case study introduces how concerns of ``security through obscurity''
and regulatory problems can impact GPL compliance matters.
\section{The Facts}
Vigorien distributes a backup solution product that allows system
administrators to create encrypted backups of file-systems on Unix-like
computers. The product is based on GNU tar, a backup utility that
replaces the standard Unix utility, ``tar'', but has additional features.
Vigorien's backup solution added cryptographic features to GNU tar, and
included a suite of utilities and graphical user interfaces surrounding
GNU tar to make backups convenient.
FSF discovered the violation from a user report, and determined that the
cryptographic features were the only part of the product that constituted
a derivative work of GNU tar; the extraneous utilities merely made
``shell'' calls out to GNU tar. FSF requested that Vigorien come into
compliance with GPL by releasing the source of GNU tar, with the
cryptographic modifications, to its customers.
Vigorien released the GNU tar sources, but kept the cryptographic library
proprietary. They argued that the security of their system depending on
keeping the software proprietary and that regardless, USA export
restrictions on cryptographic software prohibited such a release. FSF
disputed the claim on the first count, pointing out that Vigorien's had
only one option if they did not want to release the source: they would
have to remove GNU tar from the software and not distribute it further.
Vigorien rejected this suggestion, since GNU tar was an integral part of
the product and the security changes were useless without GNU tar.
Regarding the export control claims, FSF proposed a number of options,
including release of the source from one of Vigorien's divisions overseas
where no such restrictions occurred, but Vigorien argued that the problem
was insoluble because they operated primarily in the USA\@.
The deadlock on the second issue was resolved when those cryptographic
export restrictions were lifted shortly thereafter, and FSF again raised
the matter with Vigorien. At that point, they dropped the first claim and
agreed to release the remaining source module to their customers. They
did so, and the violation was resolved.
\section{Lessons Learned}
\begin{enumerate}
\item {\bf Removing the GPL'd portion of the product is always an option.}
Many violators' first response is to simply refuse to release the source
code as GPL required. FSF offers the option to simply remove the GPL'd
portions from the product and continue along without them indefinitely.
Every case where this has been suggested has led to the same conclusion.
Like Vigorien, the violator argues that the product cannot function
without the GPL'd components and they cannot effectively replace them.
Such an outcome of course is further evidence that the combined work in
question is indeed a derivative work of the original GPL'd component.
If the other components cannot stand on their own and be useful without
the GPL'd portions, then one cannot effectively argue that the work as a
whole is not a derivative of the GPL'd portions.
\item {\bf ``Security'' concerns do not exonerate a distributor from GPL
obligations, and ``security through obscurity'' does not work anyway.}
The argument that ``this is security software, so it cannot be released
in source form'' is not a valid defense for explaining why the terms of
the GPL are ignored. If companies do not want to release source code
for some reason, then they should not base the work on GPL'd software.
No external argument for non-compliance can hold weight if the work as
whole is indeed a derivative work of a GPL'd program.
The ``security concerns'' argument is often floated as a reason to keep
software proprietary, but the computer security community has on
numerous occasions confirmed that such arguments are entirely specious.
Security experts have found --- since the beginnings of the field of
cryptography in the ancient word --- that sharing results about systems
and having such systems withstand peer review and scrutiny builds the
most secure systems. While full disclosure may help some who wish to
compromise security, it helps those who want to fix problems even more
by identifying them early.
\item {\bf External regulatory problems can be difficult to resolve.}
GPL, though copyright law, does not have the power to trump regulations
like export controls. While Vigorien's ``security concerns'' were
specious, their export control concerns were not. It is indeed a
difficult problem that FSF acknowledges. We want compliance with GPL
and respect for users' freedoms, but we certainly do not expect
companies to commit criminal offenses for the sake of compliance. We
will see more about this issue in our next case study.
\end{enumerate}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Case Study D}
\chapter{Haxil, Polgara, and Thesulac: Mergers, Upstream Providers and Radio Devices}
Reminder about how organizations themselves work. We don't have to
educate the organization, just call their attention to something.
This case study considers an ongoing (at the time of writing) violation
that occurred. By the end of the investigation period, three companies
were involved and many complex issues arose.
Working on DVD cases -- interested in the question on how one plays DVD
on one ligitimate owns, if one uses GNU/Linux give the licensing
structure of DVD content scrambling system.
\section{The Facts}
An article from the IBM guy who had arranged to have DVD player
application by a vendor for includsion with IBM distributed based T20s.
Haxil produced a consumer electronics device which included a mini
GNU/Linux distribution to control the device. The device was of interest
to many technically minded consumers, who purchased the device and very
quickly discovered that Free Software was included without source.
Mailing lists throughout the Free Software community erupted with
complaints about the problem, and FSF quickly investigated.
They shimed the kernel, it was a GPL problem.
FSF confirmed that FSF-copyrighted GPL'd software was included. In
addition, the whole distribution included GPL'd works from hundreds of
individual copyright holders, many of whom were, at this point, up in
arms about the violation.
Couple of weeks, we've looked into it, and we're going back to the
contractor and having them redo the thing to comply with GPL.
Meanwhile, Haxil was in the midst of being acquired by Polgara. Polgara
was as surprised as everyone else to discover the product was based on
GPL'd software; it had not been part of the disclosures made during
acquisition. FSF contacted both Haxil and Polgara, and product managers
who had transitioned into the ``Haxil division'' of newly merged Polgara
company worked and Polgara's General Counsel's office worked with FSF on
the matter.
contaminate a video output port with MacroVision.
FSF meanwhile formed a coalition with the other primary copyright holders
to pursue the enforcement effort on their behalf. FSF communicated
directly with Polgara's representatives to begin working through the
issues on behalf of FSF itself and the Free Software community at large.
kernel mods
Polgara pointed out that the software distribution they used was mostly
contributed by an upstream provider, Thesulac, and Haxil's changes to that
code base were minimal. Polgara negotiated with Thesulac to obtain the
source, although the issue was moving very slowly in the channels between
Polgara and Thesulac.
FSF encouraged a round-table meeting so that high bandwidth communication
could occur between FSF, Polgara and Thesulac. Polgara and Thesulac
agreed, and that discussion began. Thesulac provided nearly complete
sources to Polgara, and Polgara made a full software release on their
website. At the time of writing, that software still has some build
problems (similar those that occurred with Davrik, as described in
Section~\ref{davrik-build-problems}). FSF continues to negotiate with
Polgara and Thesulac to resolve these problems, which have a clear path to
solution and are expected to resolve.
Similar to the Vigorien case, Thesulac has regulatory concerns. In this
case, it is not export controls --- an issue that has since been resolved
--- but radio spectrum regulation. Since this consumer electronic device
contains a software-programmable radio transmitter, regulations in (at
least) the USA and Japan prohibit release of those portions of the code
that operate the device. Since this is a low-level programming issue, the
changes to operate the device are a derivative work of the kernel named
Linux. This situation remains unresolved at the time of writing, although
FSF continues to negotiation with Thesulac and the Linux community
regarding the problem.
\section{Lessons Learned}
\begin{enumerate}
\item {\bf Community outrage, while justified, can often make negotiation
more difficult.} FSF has a strong policy to not publicized names of GPL
violators if they are negotiating in a friendly way and operating in
good faith toward compliance. Most violations are honest mistakes, and
FSF sees no reason to publicly admonish violators who genuinely see to
come into compliance with GPL and to work hard staying in compliance.
This case was so public in the Free Software community that both Haxil's
and Polgara's representatives were nearly shell-shocked by the time FSF
began negotiations. There was much work required to diffuse the
situation. We empathize with our community and their outrage about GPL
violations, but we also want to follow a path that leads expediently
to compliance. In our experience, public outcry works best as a last
resort, not the first.
\item {\bf For software companies, GPL compliance belongs on a corporate
acquisition checklist. } Polgara was truly amazed that Haxil had used
GPL'd software in a major new product line but never informed Polgara
during the acquisition process. While GPL compliance is not a
particularly difficult matter, it is an additional obligation that comes
along with the product line. When planning mergers and joint ventures,
include lists of GPL'd components contained in the products discussed.
\item {\bf Compliance problems of upstream providers do not excuse a
violation for the downstream distributor.} To paraphrase \S 6, upstream
providers are not responsible for enforcing compliance of their
downstream, nor are downstream distributors responsible for compliance
problems of upstream providers. However, engaging in distribution of
GPL'd works out of compliance is still just that --- a compliance
problem. When FSF carries out enforcement, we are patient and
sympathetic when the problem appears to be upstream. In fact, we urge
the violator to point us to the upstream provider to talk to them, and
in this case we were happy to begin negotiations with Thesulac. However,
Polgara still has an obligation to bring their product into compliance.
\item {\bf It behooves upstream providers to advise downstream
distributors about compliance matters.} FSF has encouraged Thesulac to
distribute a ``good practices for GPL compliance'' document with their
product. Polgara added various software components to Thesulac's
product, and it is conceivable that such additions can introduce
compliance. In FSF's opinion, Thesulac is no way legally responsible
for such a violation introduced by their customer, but it behooves them
from a business standpoint to educate their customers about using the
product. We can argue whether or not it is your coffee vendor's fault
if you burn yourself with their product, but (likely) no one on either
side would dispute the prudence of placing a ``caution: hot'' label on
the cup.
\item {\bf FSF enforcement often avoids redundant enforcement cases from
many parties.} Most Free Software systems have hundreds of copyright
holders. Some have thousands. FSF is in a unique position as one of
the largest single copyright holders on GPL'd software and as a
respected umpire in the community neutrally enforcing the rules of the
GPL road. FSF works hard in the community to convince copyright
holders that consolidating GPL claims through FSF is better for them,
and more likely to yield positive compliance results.
A few copyright holders engage in the ``proprietary relicensing''
business, so they use GPL enforcement as a sales channel for that
business. FSF, as a community-oriented not-for-profit organization,
seeks only to preserve the freedom of Free Software in its enforcement
efforts. As it turns out, most of the community of copyright holders
of Free Software want the same thing. Share and share alike is a
simple rule to follow, and following that rule to FSF's satisfaction
usually means you are following it to the satisfaction of the entire
Free Software community.
\end{enumerate}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Good Practices for Compliance}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\chapter{Ethical Considerations for the Attorney Practicing Free Software}
Generally, from the experience of GPL enforcement, we glean the following
general practices that can help in GPL compliance for organizations that
distribute products based on GPL'd software:
\begin{enumerate}
\item Talk to your software engineers and ask them where they got the
components they use in the products they build. Find out if GPL'd
components are present.
\item Teach your engineering staff to pay attention to license documents.
Give them easy-to-follow policies to get approval for using a Free
Software component.
\item Build a ``Free Software Licensing'' committee that handles requests
and questions about GPL and other Free Software licenses.
\item Add ``What parts of your products are under GPL or other Free
Software licenses?'' to your checklist of questions to ask when you
consider mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures.
\item Encourage your engineers to participate collaboratively with GPL'd
software development. The more knowledge about the Free Software world
your organization has, the better equipped it is to deal with this
rapidly changing field.
\item When someone points out a potential GPL violation in one of your
products, do not assume the product line is doomed. GPL is not a virus;
merely having GPL'd code in one part of a product does not necessarily
mean that every related product must also be GPL'd. And, even if some
software needs to be released that was not before, the product will
surely still survive. In FSF's enforcement efforts, we have not yet
seen a product line die because source was released to customers in
compliance with GPL.
\end{enumerate}
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
\end{document}
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