[wellylug] Linux as selling point.

[David Murray]

On Sun, 2005-08-07 at 22:19, Jethro Carr wrote:
> On Sun, 2005-08-07 at 22:04 +1200, David Antliff wrote:
> > On Sun, 7 Aug 2005, Jethro Carr wrote:
> > > Interesting that some retailers are using Linux as a selling point...
> > >
> > > http://www.jethrocarr.jedolinux.com/stuff/linux_device.png
> > >
> > > I wonder if it's possible to customize the Linux installation on the
> > > device... 20GB PDA anyone? :-)
> > 
> > They don't provide source code. It's a direct violation of the GPL.
> 
> yeah, that is a constant problem, especially with embedded devices :-(

One key question is:

Are they distributing a software product, or are they distributing a
gadget that just happens to use software internally?

They would be in violation of the GPL if they made publicly available a
modified version of a GPL'd software product in only binary format
without also publishing the source code of the modifications.

I'm not convinced that distributing a gadget that just happens to use a
modification of a GPL'd software product to make that gadget work also
constitutes a non-internal distribution of a binary version of a
software product - especially if the software cannot be copied from the
gadget.


Warm regards,

David Murray

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