Date Thu, 31 Oct 2019 23:02:42 +0000 From gameonlinux@redchan ... Subject (Censored) Why will no-one sue GrSecurity for their blatant GPL violation (of GCC and the linux kernel)? I tried to send this to the list, but it was dropped as "spam", which is

no surprise since the some want to screen communications to RMS and thus

control him.



RMS:

Could you share your thoughts, if any, of why no one will sue GrSecurity

("Open Source Security" (a Pennsylvania company)) for their blatant

violation of section 6 of version 2 of the GNU General Public License?



Both regarding their GCC plugins and their Linux-Kernel patch which is a

non-separable derivative work?



They distribute such under a no-redistribution agreement to paying

customers (the is the only distribution they do). If the customer

redistributes the derivative works they are punished.



That is: GrSecurity (OSS) has created a contract to /Defeat/ the GPL and

has done so successfully so far. Very successfully. The GPL is basically

the BSD license now, since such as been allowed to stand.



This is how businesses see the GPL. They are no longer afraid: They will

simply do what GrSecurity has done. Something that was supposed to stay

liberated: a security patch that helped users maintain their privacy by

not being immediately rooted when using a linux kernel on a GNU system;

is now non-free.



With this the GPL _fails_.



NO ONE has sued GrSecurity. Thus they are seen as "having it right"

"correct" "we can do this".



Wouldn't the FSF have standing regarding the GCC plugins atleast?

Couldn't you all rally linux-kernel copyright holders to bring a joint

action?



References:

perens.com/2017/06/28/warning-grsecurity-potential-contributory-infringement-risk-for-customers/



perens.com/static/OSS_Spenger_v_Perens/0_2018cv15189/docs1/pdf/18.pdf

(Page 10 onward of this brief gives a good recitation of the facts and

issues



