3 ms·
The problem is when random people from the internet start unwarranted attacks over GPL violations when the problem can be dealt with constructively. The exampl
by akamaka 11y ago
The problem is when random people from the internet start unwarranted attacks over GPL violations when the problem can be dealt with constructively.
The example that pops into my head is the time when some kid start working on a mod to the Quake 3D engine that was possibly in violation of a free software license. Instead of just reporting it to the copyright holder (id Software), they engaged in a campaign of harassment until John Carmack himself came out and told them to stop. It was some seriously shameful shit.
Public shaming should be one of the last steps to take. Maybe before starting a lawsuit, or maybe after, that's up for debate, but certainly after other avenues have been exhausted.
- lucb1e 11y agoI see your point but would say there is a difference between a kid and a multinational. The same law rules both but an individual doing this by accident vs. a company doing it due to ignorance (in the best case) is different. The multinational has enough money to defend itself in court, any individual is bound to have less, especially a kid (in your example).
- FireBeyond 11y agoWhat does this person realistically expect to gain by contacting Tier 1 customer service about an issue with -the source code and licensing of an in car entertainment computer-? Now in theory, CS should be "empowered" or able to escalate, but this is juvenile, to me, the very briefest of exchanges and then off to HN and elsewhere with "time for a lawsuit!".