#4265 BLOC Update.: OLPC needs to comply with the GPL, dammit (was: license information and source for activity bundles should be checked for compliance)

Zarro Boogs per Child bugtracker at laptop.org
Tue Mar 11 06:31:32 EDT 2008


#4265: OLPC needs to comply with the GPL, dammit
----------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
  Reporter:  gnu      |       Owner:  mako    
      Type:  task     |      Status:  assigned
  Priority:  blocker  |   Milestone:  Update.2
 Component:  distro   |     Version:          
Resolution:           |    Keywords:          
  Verified:  0        |    Blocking:          
 Blockedby:  5694     |  
----------------------+-----------------------------------------------------

Comment(by gnu):

 I object to the title change.

 (1)  Compliance with the GPL requires more than merely inserting COPYING
 files.  Read the entire bug report, please.  OLPC has modified numerous
 GPL'd programs but has not marked them as modified.  OLPC's GPL'd programs
 do not display their license status in any way that the end user is likely
 to see it and thus be informed of the free-ness of the software.  OLPC is
 shipping binary builds across the net (as "updates") yet not offering the
 matching source code.  In fact,
 OLPC forcibly upgraded my XO laptop across the network to a new build
 without matching source -- without notice and without consent!  OLPC is
 shipping 340,000 machines to Spanish speaking countries without providing
 a translation of the GPL license into Spanish so that the recipients will
 know their rights!  This is the third time I have repeated this kind of
 stuff, in this bug report alone, yet nothing is done -- and meanwhile
 let's change the title to avoid letting people know that "OLPC needs to
 START complying with the GPL".

 (2)  If activity builds need checking for update.2, file that a separate
 bug.  The basic GPL compliance bug is NOT resolved.  Sugar itself is not
 GPL compliant, nor the underlying GNU/Linux stuff.

 I continue to be shocked, shocked! that an FSF board member and major free
 software contributors are, five months after the initial complaint, still
 sweeping basic GPL violations under the rug.

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/4265#comment:16>
One Laptop Per Child <http://dev.laptop.org>
OLPC bug tracking system



More information about the Bugs mailing list