Paul Reilly wrote:
> I suspect there are other 'appliances' which are really just linux.
> Take these BlueCoat proxy appliances for instance.
One thing I think it's important to note with the proliferation of
Linux, in this domain is, that the majority of manufacturers will
*really* be caught on the back foot, if and when people start requesting
access to GPL'd code used in their devices.
I'm thinking Mobile phones, DVRs, *else*.
OSS Bootloaders, changed to work on embedded board (x) anyone ?
My thought is that, mostly, people simply haven't asked for disclosure
of GPL/LGPL source used in *appliance* like products and then *when*
enivitably people do start asking that the corporates will be
A) Surprised
B) Inadequately prepared to fulfill their obligations to disclose
C) Belligerent due to ignorance
Ca) Potentially belligerent to the tune of "go get a laywer... let's see
how 'ard you are"
D) And/or frantic, once said corporates realise, that, you can't just
use GPL/LGPL code, not disclose and thumb your finger at people who try
to hold you to your GPL/LGPL license commitments.
Da) And/or fully prepaired to fight it out anyway, due to having
business models that rely on vendor lock in, instead of services based
around OSS... yet quite preparied to try and profit off the back of
OSS... in any way they can... quasi-legally, if necessary.
Basically, the companies are kids with their hands in the cookie jar,
right now... or at least it, very much seems that way, to me.
I look at http://www.linuxdevices.com/ and think, how many of these
companies are congniscent, able and willing to live up to their
GPL/LGPL/Other OSS obligations, if asked to do so ?
My suspicion is... very few, very few indeed. Considering the stupidity
of most office politics, it's quite likely there is an attitude of ....
deliberate ignorance.... sticking the head in the sand... and seeing
just how much *non* conformance can be got away with.
It's the same sort of attitude the CherryOS people... and now their
nebulous progeny seem to foster... tolerate... or at least turn a blind
eye to !
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/11/008258&tid=117&tid=185&tid=17
/rant ends
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