Gpl-violations.org
Encyclopedia
The gpl-violations.org is a not-for-profit project founded and led by Harald Welte
in 2004. It works to make sure software licensed under the GNU General Public License
is not used in ways prohibited by the license.
In May, 2008, gpl-violations.org and the Free Software Foundation Europe
Freedom Task Force announced that they were to deepen their previous cooperation. The FSFE Freedom Task Force will be focusing on educating and informing, while gpl-violations.org will focus on enforcing the GPL
.
code since late 2003. Since then, other developers have given gpl-Violations.org legal right to represent them. While the Software Freedom Law Center
, an organisation with similar goals operates from the USA, gpl-violations.org operates from Germany
, Welte's home country.
The project has been credited with being the first to prove in court that the GPL
is valid and that it will stand up in court.
Project creator Harald Welte received the 2007 FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software
, partly because of his work on gpl-violations.org.
had used GPL
code in its products against the terms of the license, and used cryptographic tools to conceal the violation. The violation was alleged to have occurred in the FortiOS system, which the gpl-violations.org project said contained elements of the Linux kernel
. In response, a Munich
court granted a temporary injunction against the company, preventing it from selling products until they were in compliance with the necessary license terms; Fortinet was forced to make their FortiOS available free in compliance with GPL licensing.
Germany GmbH regarding D-Link's alleged inappropriate and copyright infringing use of parts of the Linux Kernel. The judgement finally provided the on-record, legal precedent that the GPL is valid and that it will stand up in German courts.
Harald Welte
Harald Welte is a programmer resident in Berlin, Germany. Within the free software community, Welte is well known as a hacker of the Linux kernel and for his activities in enforcing the GNU General Public License , the license that governs the use of much of free software.Welte is also involved in...
in 2004. It works to make sure software licensed under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
is not used in ways prohibited by the license.
Goals
The goals of the project are, according to its website, to- Raise public awareness of the infringingCopyright infringementCopyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
use of free softwareFree softwareFree software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, and thus putting pressure on the infringers. - Give users who detect or assume GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
-licensed software is being misused a way to report them to the copyright holders - Assist copyright holders in any action against GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
infringing organizations - Distribute information on how a commercial entity using GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
licensed software in their products can comply with the license."
In May, 2008, gpl-violations.org and the Free Software Foundation Europe
Free Software Foundation Europe
The Free Software Foundation Europe was founded in 2001 as an official European sister organization of the U.S.-based Free Software Foundation to take care of all aspects of free software in Europe. FSF and FSFE are financially and legally separate entities.FSFE believes that access to and...
Freedom Task Force announced that they were to deepen their previous cooperation. The FSFE Freedom Task Force will be focusing on educating and informing, while gpl-violations.org will focus on enforcing the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
.
History
The gpl-violations.org project was founded in 2004 by Harald Welte. Welte was a kernel developer who had been actively enforcing the GPL license on his netfilter/iptablesIptables
iptables is a user space application program that allows a system administrator to configure the tables provided by the Linux kernel firewall and the chains and rules it stores...
code since late 2003. Since then, other developers have given gpl-Violations.org legal right to represent them. While the Software Freedom Law Center
Software Freedom Law Center
The Software Freedom Law Center is an organization that provides pro bono legal representation and related services to not-for-profit developers of free software/open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of US$4 million was pledged by...
, an organisation with similar goals operates from the USA, gpl-violations.org operates from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Welte's home country.
The project has been credited with being the first to prove in court that the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
is valid and that it will stand up in court.
Project creator Harald Welte received the 2007 FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software
FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software
Free Software Foundation grants two annual awards. Since 1998, FSF has granted the award for Advancement of Free Software. Since 2005, it has also granted the Free Software Award for Projects of Social Benefit.-Presentation ceremonies:...
, partly because of his work on gpl-violations.org.
Fortinet
In 2005, the gpl-violations.org project uncovered evidence that FortinetFortinet
Fortinet is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and specializes in network security appliances. Fortinet’s flagship product line is sold under the brand name of FortiGate.-Corporate Overview:...
had used GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
code in its products against the terms of the license, and used cryptographic tools to conceal the violation. The violation was alleged to have occurred in the FortiOS system, which the gpl-violations.org project said contained elements of the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
. In response, a Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
court granted a temporary injunction against the company, preventing it from selling products until they were in compliance with the necessary license terms; Fortinet was forced to make their FortiOS available free in compliance with GPL licensing.
D-Link
On September 6, 2006, the gpl-violations.org project prevailed in court litigation against D-LinkD-Link
D-Link Corporation was founded in June 1986 in Taipei as Datex Systems Inc. It began as a network adapter vendor and has gone on to become a designer, developer, and manufacturer of networking solutions for both the consumer and business markets.In 2007, it was the leading networking company in...
Germany GmbH regarding D-Link's alleged inappropriate and copyright infringing use of parts of the Linux Kernel. The judgement finally provided the on-record, legal precedent that the GPL is valid and that it will stand up in German courts.
See also
- Harald WelteHarald WelteHarald Welte is a programmer resident in Berlin, Germany. Within the free software community, Welte is well known as a hacker of the Linux kernel and for his activities in enforcing the GNU General Public License , the license that governs the use of much of free software.Welte is also involved in...
- Software Freedom Law CenterSoftware Freedom Law CenterThe Software Freedom Law Center is an organization that provides pro bono legal representation and related services to not-for-profit developers of free software/open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of US$4 million was pledged by...
- Free Software Foundation EuropeFree Software Foundation EuropeThe Free Software Foundation Europe was founded in 2001 as an official European sister organization of the U.S.-based Free Software Foundation to take care of all aspects of free software in Europe. FSF and FSFE are financially and legally separate entities.FSFE believes that access to and...