[linux-elitists] What would be the proper course of action for a possible GPL violation?

[Greg KH]

On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 07:55:05PM -0700, James Sparenberg wrote:
> All,
> 
>    As some of you may have seen on slashdot there is an announcement that all 
> asus mobo's will in the near future contain built in splashtop Linux desktop.  
> Being the curious monkey I am.  I go to the site and start looking for 
> packages and source.  Just to see what it is I'm dealing with.
> 
>   Not only am I not finding a path to source, but I saw this page and the 
> following paragraph contained within.  
> 
> http://www.splashtop.com/aboutus-corporate.php
> 
> <snip>
> DeviceVM is releasing its first software product, Splashtop, in October of 
> 2007. Splashtop is a proprietary technology developed by DeviceVM that 
> provides users with a rapid-start alternative to the traditional operating 
> system.
> </snip>
> 
> Now before people start calling me alarmist.  I'm not trying to raise a call 
> to arms, and I do understand business.  What I'm looking for is the proper 
> method to follow to find the people able to assist DeviceVM in working with 
> GPL'd software, and complying with it's license.  
> 
> Suggestions?

Until you have a device with this code in it, in your hands, you can't
legally ask for the source code.

So, first step would be to buy the device.

FYI, I know someone who was just talking with ASUS last week in Tiawan,
and I think they are doing the right thing with regards to their kernel
GPL code, so I don't think there are going to be any issues here.  If
you run into problems, let me know and I'll see if I can get some direct
engineering contacts for you.

good luck,

greg k-h