[LAU] ***SPAM*** Re: looking for command-line/scriptable mastering software

[Gene Heskett]

On Monday 26 November 2012 07:28:34 Grekim did opine:

> > Please, read the GPL again, all versions.  GPLv3 in particular gives
> > the legal teams at places like the Free Software Foundation or the
> > Electronic Freedom Foundation, the legal power, if you assign the
> > copyrights to them (this is required so they have standing in a court
> > of law to bring the suit in the first place), to go after the thieves
> > and cheats.  Generally they get compliance with the GPL, but there
> > have also been some cases where the violators have been fined some
> > quite decent sums of money.  You won't get much if anything, but rest
> > assured, the thieves and cheats WILL be brought to heel, at no cost
> > to you.
> > 
> > There are exceptions to that of course, does anyone here remember how
> > much those 2 blackbox coders collected?
> > 
> > Cheers, Gene
> 
> Thanks Gene.   I'm going to need to read that about 25 times before I
> get a full handle on it.  But, in a moment of panic here I am wondering
> if I am violating GPL by using some ALSA functions in my code?

IANAL, but its my understanding that if you "borrowed" that code, it 
probably has a license note at the top of the file it came from, and if 
that file was GPL'd, then your whole effort could be infected.  The only 
way out in that case is to give another coder who has not seen that code, a 
specification of what it must do, and then let him write those functions in 
a 'clean room'.  Then remove the alsa code and put the new code in its 
place.

Sometimes you'll get cleaner, more compact code if you are accurate in 
doing the specification.  AIUI, you can't do it because you've seen the 
alsa code, and the courts have held that you are then contaminated.

However, since IANAL, please do consult with one reasonably familiar with 
such issues for the 'official' thoughts on the matter.

Cheers, Gene
-- 
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