6 ms·

They stole open-source software?

by deadbolt 3y ago

threeseed 3y ago
Do you see them complying with the terms of the GPL ?
- charleslmunger 3y ago
  https://consumer.huawei.com/en/opensource/detail/?siteCode=worldwide&productCode=Smartphones&fileType=openSourceSoftware&pageSize=10&curPage=1 https://consumer.huawei.com/en/opensource/detail/?siteCode=w...
- Barrin92 3y ago
  I love how the general tone is "information is free!" unless of course when the one benefitting from it is China, in which case everyone suddenly gets out their magnifying glasses and GPL licenses. For what it's worth in practical terms, I can't tell you if everyone in China complies with every license, but Huawei is one of the largest contributors to the linux kernel and several open source projects. https://news.itsfoss.com/huawei-kernel-contribution/ https://news.itsfoss.com/huawei-kernel-contribution/
  - xtracto 3y ago
    These conversations are always interesting in these type of US-centric forums: You can really see the "patriotism" that emanates from these conversations: China BAD, US Good and exactly what you mention: Free for me but not for thee. As someone from a third world country it is like watching two bullies fight each other in the school. Well, both of them spy on me, both of them abuse me (I'm Mexican) and both of them think they are always right. For me, both of them are pretty similar.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - threeseed 3y ago
    China has a long and well-documented history of IP theft. So the doubt is legitimate. And they have to contribute to Linux and other open source projects in order to have an Android-compatible operating system. At some point you need to either fix bugs or add features to support your own hardware. But this shouldn't be seen as altruism.
    - deadbolt 3y ago
      > So the doubt is legitimate That's a nice way of excusing yourself for claiming they're not complying with the GPL, when incorrect.
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      Apparently that doesn't matter to US companies always eager to build in China as means to avoid paying US salaries.
    - matheusmoreira 3y ago
      > China has a long and well-documented history of IP theft. As does the USA. As do other western nations. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28330810 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28330810
  - kadoban 3y ago
    > I love how the general tone is "information is free!" unless of course when the one benefitting from it is China, in which case everyone suddenly gets out their magnifying glasses and GPL licenses. I have _never_ gotten the "information is free!" vibe from HN. That was like 80s/90s hacker culture, not 2020s HN. There's a lot of devs and business people here, neither of which are fond of licenses being abused in general.
    - deadbolt 3y ago
      How is the license being abused?
      - kadoban 3y ago
        I make no representation either way on that part, I have no idea. I only wanted to discuss the other part.
tianqi 3y ago
Yes. You might have a better word for stealthily using open source software and claiming that it was developed independently by themselves.
- TaylorAlexander 3y ago
  That’s called lying. But it’s not theft.
  - rpmisms 3y ago
    [flagged]
    - roenxi 3y ago
      1) If someone is raping prostitutes, there are more serious crimes afoot than theft. 2) Sorry, but how have they broken the license? We seem to have missed a step in the conversation. 3) And on the thread topic, I don't even think they are clearly lying. They might just be mis-speaking.
      - rpmisms 3y ago
        1) exactly 2) reselling most open-source code is theft under the licenses in common use. 3) maybe, but on this forum of rather clever people, I assume people mean what they say.
        roenxi 3y ago
        > reselling most open-source code is theft under the licenses in common use. That doesn't sound like any OSS license in common use; and one of the freedoms that FOSS licenses preserve is the freedom to sell software. Which license do you think they're in violation of? > maybe, but on this forum of rather clever people, I assume people mean what they say. That is a bad assumption. People often mis-speak and there is nothing that protects against that. When people make a claim that isn't true, it is prudent to seek clarification in the first instance to prevent misunderstandings. Particularly when dealing with cross-cultural institutions where the management presumably speak Chinese.

They stole open-source software?

threeseed 3y ago

Do you see them complying with the terms of the GPL ?

charleslmunger 3y ago
https://consumer.huawei.com/en/opensource/detail/?siteCode=worldwide&productCode=Smartphones&fileType=openSourceSoftware&pageSize=10&curPage=1 https://consumer.huawei.com/en/opensource/detail/?siteCode=w...
Barrin92 3y ago
I love how the general tone is "information is free!" unless of course when the one benefitting from it is China, in which case everyone suddenly gets out their magnifying glasses and GPL licenses. For what it's worth in practical terms, I can't tell you if everyone in China complies with every license, but Huawei is one of the largest contributors to the linux kernel and several open source projects. https://news.itsfoss.com/huawei-kernel-contribution/ https://news.itsfoss.com/huawei-kernel-contribution/
- xtracto 3y ago
  These conversations are always interesting in these type of US-centric forums: You can really see the "patriotism" that emanates from these conversations: China BAD, US Good and exactly what you mention: Free for me but not for thee. As someone from a third world country it is like watching two bullies fight each other in the school. Well, both of them spy on me, both of them abuse me (I'm Mexican) and both of them think they are always right. For me, both of them are pretty similar.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- threeseed 3y ago
  China has a long and well-documented history of IP theft. So the doubt is legitimate. And they have to contribute to Linux and other open source projects in order to have an Android-compatible operating system. At some point you need to either fix bugs or add features to support your own hardware. But this shouldn't be seen as altruism.
  - deadbolt 3y ago
    > So the doubt is legitimate That's a nice way of excusing yourself for claiming they're not complying with the GPL, when incorrect.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Apparently that doesn't matter to US companies always eager to build in China as means to avoid paying US salaries.
  - matheusmoreira 3y ago
    > China has a long and well-documented history of IP theft. As does the USA. As do other western nations. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28330810 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28330810
- kadoban 3y ago
  > I love how the general tone is "information is free!" unless of course when the one benefitting from it is China, in which case everyone suddenly gets out their magnifying glasses and GPL licenses. I have _never_ gotten the "information is free!" vibe from HN. That was like 80s/90s hacker culture, not 2020s HN. There's a lot of devs and business people here, neither of which are fond of licenses being abused in general.
  - deadbolt 3y ago
    How is the license being abused?
    - kadoban 3y ago
      I make no representation either way on that part, I have no idea. I only wanted to discuss the other part.

tianqi 3y ago

Yes. You might have a better word for stealthily using open source software and claiming that it was developed independently by themselves.

TaylorAlexander 3y ago
That’s called lying. But it’s not theft.
- rpmisms 3y ago
  [flagged]
  - roenxi 3y ago
    1) If someone is raping prostitutes, there are more serious crimes afoot than theft. 2) Sorry, but how have they broken the license? We seem to have missed a step in the conversation. 3) And on the thread topic, I don't even think they are clearly lying. They might just be mis-speaking.
    - rpmisms 3y ago
      1) exactly 2) reselling most open-source code is theft under the licenses in common use. 3) maybe, but on this forum of rather clever people, I assume people mean what they say.
      - roenxi 3y ago
        > reselling most open-source code is theft under the licenses in common use. That doesn't sound like any OSS license in common use; and one of the freedoms that FOSS licenses preserve is the freedom to sell software. Which license do you think they're in violation of? > maybe, but on this forum of rather clever people, I assume people mean what they say. That is a bad assumption. People often mis-speak and there is nothing that protects against that. When people make a claim that isn't true, it is prudent to seek clarification in the first instance to prevent misunderstandings. Particularly when dealing with cross-cultural institutions where the management presumably speak Chinese.