3 ms·

Full legal text of the complaint: https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-complaint-2021-10-19.pdf https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservan

Full legal text of the complaint: https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-complaint-2021-10-19.pdf https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-... Press kit: https://shoestring.agency/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SFC_PressKit_10-19-2021_v1.pdf https://shoestring.agency/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SFC_Pre...

WalterGR 5y ago
Full legal text of the complaint: https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-complaint-2021-10-19.pdf https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-... Paragraphs 37 and 38 list the relevant software packages. Strangely the PDF is a scan. The OCR / embedded text isn't complete so there are some parts missing below... 37. Among the computer programs that comprise SmartCast are a number of programs 15 subject to the GPLv2: (a) The Linux kernel. A kernel is the heart of an operating system, which all computerized devices, like smart TV s, require in order to function. The Linux kernel is one of the most popular operating system kernels. (b) alsa-utils, which is a suite of programs that assist and manage ALSA, Linux's audio subsystem. (c) GNU bash, which is a " shell," a program that allows users to interface with the operating system and is required for most operating systems. (d) GNU awk, which is a popular scripting language with many uses. (e) bluez, which is a suite of programs that assist and manage Bluetooth for Linux ased devices. (f) BusyBox, which is a popular "thin footprint" suite of utilities for Linux. (g) coreutils, which is a popular suite of utilities for Linux, with a larger "footprint" than BusyBox 38. Among the computer programs that comprise SmartCast are a number of programs subject to the LGPLv2.1: (a) The GNU C Library, which is a library of resources that allows Linux users to program in the popular C and C++ programming languages. It would be required for any Linux14 based operating system that wished to take advantage of these popular programming languages. (b) (c) (d) hardware. (e) ffmpeg, which is a suite of libraries for handling audio, video, and multimedia. glib, which is a library that facilitates programming in C. DirectFB, which is a library that allows Linux-based systems to work with video libasound, which is a library that helps third-party programs interact with ALSA, Linux's audio subsystem. (f) libelf, which is a library for reading and modifying binary files. (g) (h) file systems. (i) libgcrypt, which is a C programming library of encryption functions and utilities. libmount, which is a library that helps third-party programs interact with Linux libnl, which is a suite of libraries related to using netlink, a popular network communication protocol. (j) selinux libraries, which help third-party programs interact with selinux. (k) systemd, which is a large system that manages, organizes and handles shutdown and restarting of system services on a Linux-based system.
- rich_sasha 5y ago
  Good point that Linux kernel is GPL - how can companies sell products with an embedded Linux then? They don't seem to be publishing sources. Basically anything IoT more advanced than a thermometer seems to be running Linux.
  - alittlesalami 5y ago
    The Software Freedom Conservancy has a page on exactly this: https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/firmware-liberation.html https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/firmware-liber...
  - HideousKojima 5y ago
    Technically the GPLv2 only requires you to provide source on request from someone who received the binaries, it doesn't require companies to proactively publish it. I think the GPLv3 changes this slightly
    - PeterisP 5y ago
      GPLv2 requires you to either proactively provide the source or proactively provide a written offer to provide source on request to any third party (section 3 of the GPLv2) - simply distributing binaries without including either source or an offer is technically a breach of license. Reacting to requests is not sufficient, you have to inform the recipient that they actually are entitled to make those requests and provide a promise that those requests will be honored.
      - bluGill 5y ago
        Back around 2012 my company was preparing an embedded system. The day the license was added one of our tester found the section about sending $5 to whatever address to get that source code. He sent the letter with his $5 and it came back return to sender. Even though this was an internal only release (most of the functions weren't even written yet) our lawyers made us go through the entire recall process to replace all the code the testers were working with - to show good faith just in case something more happened.

Full legal text of the complaint: https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-complaint-2021-10-19.pdf https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-... Press kit: https://shoestring.agency/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SFC_PressKit_10-19-2021_v1.pdf https://shoestring.agency/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SFC_Pre...

WalterGR 5y ago

Full legal text of the complaint: https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-complaint-2021-10-19.pdf https://sfconservancy.org/docs/conservancy-v-vizio-original-... Paragraphs 37 and 38 list the relevant software packages. Strangely the PDF is a scan. The OCR / embedded text isn't complete so there are some parts missing below... 37. Among the computer programs that comprise SmartCast are a number of programs 15 subject to the GPLv2: (a) The Linux kernel. A kernel is the heart of an operating system, which all computerized devices, like smart TV s, require in order to function. The Linux kernel is one of the most popular operating system kernels. (b) alsa-utils, which is a suite of programs that assist and manage ALSA, Linux's audio subsystem. (c) GNU bash, which is a " shell," a program that allows users to interface with the operating system and is required for most operating systems. (d) GNU awk, which is a popular scripting language with many uses. (e) bluez, which is a suite of programs that assist and manage Bluetooth for Linux ased devices. (f) BusyBox, which is a popular "thin footprint" suite of utilities for Linux. (g) coreutils, which is a popular suite of utilities for Linux, with a larger "footprint" than BusyBox 38. Among the computer programs that comprise SmartCast are a number of programs subject to the LGPLv2.1: (a) The GNU C Library, which is a library of resources that allows Linux users to program in the popular C and C++ programming languages. It would be required for any Linux14 based operating system that wished to take advantage of these popular programming languages. (b) (c) (d) hardware. (e) ffmpeg, which is a suite of libraries for handling audio, video, and multimedia. glib, which is a library that facilitates programming in C. DirectFB, which is a library that allows Linux-based systems to work with video libasound, which is a library that helps third-party programs interact with ALSA, Linux's audio subsystem. (f) libelf, which is a library for reading and modifying binary files. (g) (h) file systems. (i) libgcrypt, which is a C programming library of encryption functions and utilities. libmount, which is a library that helps third-party programs interact with Linux libnl, which is a suite of libraries related to using netlink, a popular network communication protocol. (j) selinux libraries, which help third-party programs interact with selinux. (k) systemd, which is a large system that manages, organizes and handles shutdown and restarting of system services on a Linux-based system.

rich_sasha 5y ago
Good point that Linux kernel is GPL - how can companies sell products with an embedded Linux then? They don't seem to be publishing sources. Basically anything IoT more advanced than a thermometer seems to be running Linux.
- alittlesalami 5y ago
  The Software Freedom Conservancy has a page on exactly this: https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/firmware-liberation.html https://sfconservancy.org/copyleft-compliance/firmware-liber...
- HideousKojima 5y ago
  Technically the GPLv2 only requires you to provide source on request from someone who received the binaries, it doesn't require companies to proactively publish it. I think the GPLv3 changes this slightly
  - PeterisP 5y ago
    GPLv2 requires you to either proactively provide the source or proactively provide a written offer to provide source on request to any third party (section 3 of the GPLv2) - simply distributing binaries without including either source or an offer is technically a breach of license. Reacting to requests is not sufficient, you have to inform the recipient that they actually are entitled to make those requests and provide a promise that those requests will be honored.
    - bluGill 5y ago
      Back around 2012 my company was preparing an embedded system. The day the license was added one of our tester found the section about sending $5 to whatever address to get that source code. He sent the letter with his $5 and it came back return to sender. Even though this was an internal only release (most of the functions weren't even written yet) our lawyers made us go through the entire recall process to replace all the code the testers were working with - to show good faith just in case something more happened.