If they modify the Linux kernel to do their tasks, then they must distribute that... as LinkSys eventually agreed to do on their wireless router before they re-designed and removed Linux from it. However, if they modified Linux just to get it to run on their box, they must distribute that. Any application they choose to write for that platform they can keep as closed as they like. Chris I suspect that they mod > Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:28:04 -0600 > From: "Sean Waite" <swaite at sbn-services.com> > Kind of funny, I > did as you said and found an article "Cisco's iPhone violates GPL, > expert says" - > http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;435863114;fp;4194304;fpid;1 > > > While Cisco is complaining about Apple using their > trademark on the Cisco iPhone, Cisco is in turn infringing on the > GPL....interesting. > > Basically it is as I suspected, Cisco has found a great revenue stream. > Get the Linux geeks to write, update, manage,etc. the OS, and they can > come in and spend less time just modifying it than actually having to > write their own OS/IOS. > > Now does the > GPL work like this. Since they are using the Linux OS, and modifying to > suit > > their specific needs, couldn't I take their own source code and use it > for my own? Meaning take the source for the ACNS units and release my > own Linux Application and Content networking distro so long as it does > not contain other license code such as Websense? > p.s. Of course this is all in theory, I don't know > a (#*@ thing about code, except for what I learned way back when on the > Radio Shack TSR-80 > > Sean Waite > > > Sean Waite > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: "Chris Schumann" <cschumann at twp-llc.com> > > To: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > > Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:23:41 -0600 (CST) > > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Linux, GPL, Source code, and use? > > > > >> Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:14:53 -0600 > >> From: "Sean Waite" <swaite at sbn-services.com> > > > >> So, then the question is, don't these companies have to make readily > >> available the source code to what they have done? Generally they are >> not > >> selling the OS, just a subscription or support. But to get the actual > >> software you have to purchase a support contract, which to me seems >> like > >> they are in fact selling it. > > > > Yes they do. And Cisco apparently keeps getting in trouble for not > making > > their modified source available. Just enter cisco linux gpl into Google > > and on the first page are articles from 2003 and 2007. > > > > Chris