On Jan 27, 2008 2:52 PM, Thorsten Wilms <t_w_@freenet.de> wrote:
On Sun, 2008-01-27 at 14:37 +0100, Marek wrote:
>
>
> On Jan 27, 2008 1:19 PM, Luis Garrido
> <luisgarrido@users.sourceforge.net> wrote:
>         > 1. usage of a computer program licensed under the terms of
>         GPL in a hardware
>         > product, whether modified or not, is not a distribution of a
>         computer
>         > program licensed under the terms of GPL, and is thus
>         prohibited by GPL.
>
>
>         I don't follow you there. Why the exception you mention
>         (selling
>         computers with Linux preinstalled) is indeed a exception and
>         not the
>         rule?
>
>  It's the only case i can think of right now, that allows to
> distribute GPLed software inside hardware  for profit,
> because you're making profit out of the hardware  not the software.

The Tivo, several routers and other appliances ...

If i were the copyright holder i would only allow it under a different license, and charge for it.
Let's put it this way:
Can you ditch Linux installed on a computer you just bought and install a different OS on that comuter along with applications? Yes.
Can you install a different sw on your router which uses GPLed software? No.

The thing is that in case of a router the sofware that is licensed under the GPL represents a substantial part of the product, whereas in case of a computer it does not.

Marek
 



--
Thorsten Wilms

thorwil's design for free software:
http://thorwil.wordpress.com/

_______________________________________________
Linux-audio-dev mailing list
Linux-audio-dev@lists.linuxaudio.org
http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-dev