Open source developers file first GPL copyright infringement suit in the US

by Brad Linder Sep 20th 2007

It's no secret that a lot of consumer electronics devices are built using Linux and other open source software. That includes well known products like TiVo, and somewhat lesser known items like Monsoon Multimedia's Hava place-shifting device (it's a lot like a Slingbox, but there's a wireless model).

Open source software is often powerful, stable, and most importantly, available. The open source community has developed a wealth of code that developers can draw from in order to build robust consumer oriented products.

But while the software is often free, meaning you can use it without paying, it's also free as in speech. In other words, once you incorporate code that has been published under the General Public License, you have to allow others to see the source code for your device. And that's not something a lot of companies like to do. You know, trade secrets and all.

So when the folks that developed the open source BusyBox software, which is used in the Hava, asked Monsoon Multimedia for a peek at the company's source code and Monsoon failed to comply, two open source developers filed suit against the company.

This is apparently the first time anyone has filed a copyright infringement suit in the US involving an alleged violation of the General Public License. It should be interesting to see if the case goes to court where it could set precedent, or if Monsoon Multimedia decides to settle out of court.

[via CNet]

Tags: general-public-license, gpl, hava, lawsuit, monsoon-multimedia

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kingmanor said 4:58PM on 9-20-2007

Didn't the EFF sue Linksys over the firmware in the WRT54G? or was that just the threat that make Linksys release the source code?

Dukeman said 3:54PM on 9-21-2007

It wouldn't surprise me if larger companies that rely on GPL software help fund a settlement for Monsoon Multimedia just too keep the spectre of legal precedent at bay.

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