Dimitriid
June 27th, 2009, 04:56 PM
Apparently Atari has taken code from a GPL program called ScummVM ( and emulator for the Nintendo DS ) and they took legal action but apparently settled.:
http://sev-notes.blogspot.com/2009/06/gpl-scummvm-and-violations.html
Thus, the facts were:
* There is a GPL violation (their denial has to be proven in a court, strings in executables and the bug above clearly show it)
* Atari could not release source codes because of Nintendo NDA
* Atari could not put GPL clause because of Nintendo NDA
* Atari could not "buy out" ScummVM from us
* There is no possibility to double license ScummVM, at least SCUMM engine
* We do not need any money as a "bribe to keep silent"
This is an interesting case, while it was perfectly fine for Atari to give full credit to the developers, Nintendo specifically forbiddens GPL code to be included.
This to me sounds like a nasty, predatory tactic. Sure do not use GPL free software if you don't want to, but to go out of your way and block third party companies who develop for your hardware to do so? Too bad this guys couldn't afford a long legal battle but I don't like the implications of this.
Another thing I don't like is to know shovelware or "Casual Games" are so popular you can just basically rip off homebrew applications and emulators and make a ton of money for copy/pasting most of the code.
Opinions?
p.s. search was giving me troubles so if this is already posted can we merge threads?
http://sev-notes.blogspot.com/2009/06/gpl-scummvm-and-violations.html
Thus, the facts were:
* There is a GPL violation (their denial has to be proven in a court, strings in executables and the bug above clearly show it)
* Atari could not release source codes because of Nintendo NDA
* Atari could not put GPL clause because of Nintendo NDA
* Atari could not "buy out" ScummVM from us
* There is no possibility to double license ScummVM, at least SCUMM engine
* We do not need any money as a "bribe to keep silent"
This is an interesting case, while it was perfectly fine for Atari to give full credit to the developers, Nintendo specifically forbiddens GPL code to be included.
This to me sounds like a nasty, predatory tactic. Sure do not use GPL free software if you don't want to, but to go out of your way and block third party companies who develop for your hardware to do so? Too bad this guys couldn't afford a long legal battle but I don't like the implications of this.
Another thing I don't like is to know shovelware or "Casual Games" are so popular you can just basically rip off homebrew applications and emulators and make a ton of money for copy/pasting most of the code.
Opinions?
p.s. search was giving me troubles so if this is already posted can we merge threads?