RM proxy server query
RM now sell a proxy server solution that uses proxy .. caching but not filtering.. unless you pay extra. They don't even give you the root password so you can install extra stuff yourself. I was just curious in what way this reflected the license of the GPL software they are selling.. does witholding access to your ability to modify the program count as any sort of infringement? Does anyone know any more about RM's proxy server solution? -- Azrael ("\''/").___..--'''"-._ `0_ O ) `-. ( ).`-.__.`) (_Y_.)' ._ ) `._ `. ``-..-' _..`--'_..-_/ /--'_.' .' ((i).-'' ((i).' (((.-' Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat. ICQ#52944566 _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
On Sun, 2002-04-07 at 01:26, Stephen Ogden wrote:
RM now sell a proxy server solution that uses proxy .. caching but not filtering.. unless you pay extra. They don't even give you the root password so you can install extra stuff yourself.
That's a bit poor, but I suppose they are trying to prevent people from shooting themselves in the foot.
I was just curious in what way this reflected the license of the GPL software they are selling.. does witholding access to your ability to modify the program count as any sort of infringement?
Well, I doubt the are withholding access in any real manner. If you have physical access, you should be able to get root, by rebooting, and either breaking in at the LILO prompt, or booting of a rescue floppy or CD. If they've made it so that you'd need to void the warranty to acheive this, then it is starting to look like they're going at least against the spirit of the GPL, if not the letter. Do they provide source code for the product? If it's GPLed, in part or whole and they've not accompanied it either with the source, or with a reasonably prominent offer of the source, and idication of your right to it, then they're in breach of the GPL. Cheers, Phil. -- Say no to software patents! http://petition.eurolinux.org/ |)| Philip Hands [+44 (0)20 8530 9560] http://www.hands.com/ |-| HANDS.COM Ltd. http://www.uk.debian.org/ |(| 10 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, London E18 1NE ENGLAND
I was just curious in what way this reflected the license of the GPL software they are selling.. does witholding access to your ability to modify the program count as any sort of infringement? Does anyone know any more about RM's proxy server solution?
The GPL requires that they supply the source on demmand to anyone they supply the binary to. If you asked and they refused then you could contact FAST. -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
On Mon, 2002-04-08 at 15:15, Mark Evans wrote:
I was just curious in what way this reflected the license of the GPL software they are selling.. does witholding access to your ability to modify the program count as any sort of infringement? Does anyone know any more about RM's proxy server solution?
The GPL requires that they supply the source on demmand to anyone they supply the binary to.
It requires a little more than that. It requires that they either supply the source at the same time, or in place of the source they provide a written offer to supply the source, charging no more than copying costs, and valid for at least 3 years from the date of distribution. If they have not already done one of these, and there is GPLed software in the box, they are already in violation of the GPL. That could be quite bad for them, given this penalty clause in the GPL: Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. In other words, they lose all rights to distribute the software they violated on, permanently -- or at least until they are forgiven by the copyright holder. The fact that the FSF generally forgives anyone that makes best endeavours to clean up their act, should not be confused with the idea that all you have to do is give out the source to get away with a violation -- once you violate, you need to ask the copyright holder to give your halo back before you're allowed to touch the software again. Cheers, Phil. -- Say no to software patents! http://petition.eurolinux.org/ |)| Philip Hands [+44 (0)20 8530 9560] http://www.hands.com/ |-| HANDS.COM Ltd. http://www.uk.debian.org/ |(| 10 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, London E18 1NE ENGLAND
participants (3)
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Mark Evans -
Philip Hands -
Stephen Ogden