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