NuTTeR -- Not Entered -- wrote:
"This code is linked with other proprietary code." - dose that not mean that the proprietary code should also become GPL?
It depends on if the original code is GPL or LGPL and how it is "linked". It may be difficult to work out the legality of the GPL in this respect to force someone to open other code, especially if it was licensed from another source they may not actually own what is "linked" with it.
What do you think will be done? What should be done?
First off we should be 100% sure that there is a problem, 1,000,000 revolutionary penguinistas descending from the hills intent on blood could look very embarrassing when you find out that there has been a mistake. (although the likelyhood of a mistake appears to be small)
People should organise a boycott of their products is the best start, hitting what appears to be a fairly small company in the wallet will hurt them quite quickly (maybe we should make make local risc os user groups aware of this) so disuading any customers would be a good start.
(or we leave Tux heads in their beds etc.) ;)
Then they can either
A. be encouraged to GPL *all* of the code in question.
or
B. be encouraged to remove all disputed code and rewrite using BSD style/licensed sources.
Adam