[Arm-netbook] Amlogic AML8726-MX SoC kernel source code released

[lkcl luke]

On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Alexey Eromenko <al4321 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I disagree about nightmare scenario.

 you're entitled to.  others reading this publicly may however
understand it.  but, assuming that they do not, let me reiterate

> Flow:
> 1. original code is GPL
> 2. company releases non-free extensions, violating the GPL
> 3. it's engineer(s) violate company policy and re-releasing the code
> as GPL. (returning freedom to the code, which is free by law of
> license)
>
> Nothing wrong with that, as it is like stealing from the thief, which is legal.

  ok, leaving the "thief" analogy aside, it's not the [hypothetical]
"theft" that's the problem.  the problem is that if you buy hardware
product from a company that is known to be under threat of a lawsuit,
then your insurance company will, when the products do not arrive
because they were impounded at customs, go "well you should have known
about this threat, so we are not going to pay out".

 to make that clearer, here is the sequence of events:

 * SoC manufacturer forces GPL-violating NDA
 * ODM signs it, starts manufacturing.
 * GPL violations situation occurs.  manufacturer loses right to
distribute source code
 * you pay $100m for a shipment of product, knowing full well that
it's GPL-violating.
 * you take out indemnity insurance
 * lawsuit occurs.
 * $100m shipment is impounded and destroyed by Customs.
 * you contact insurance company, say "i want my $100m back"
 * insurance company looks at situation and says "NO".

is that clearer at all?  can you see that the hypothetical "theft" ("a
thief stealing from a thief") that you're describing is completely
irrelevant to that nightmare scenario?

 l.