Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 31st Jul 2007 15:19 UTC, submitted by Jim Garrison
"Development of OpenHAL, a wireless network component for Linux, can now resume unfettered after months of legal uncertainty. OpenHAL allows people with wireless cards based on technology from Atheros Communications, Inc. to connect to networks using solely free and open source software. Earlier this year, allegations were made that OpenHAL might include material that infringed the copyright of Atheros' proprietary HAL software. The Linux Wireless developers asked the Software Freedom Law Center to investigate these rumors, and SFLC agreed to help on a pro-bono basis."
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Member since:2005-10-13
Furthermore since Moglen and the SFLC lawyers are GPL supporters, it is in their interest to prevent any software copyright infringement.
Exactly. People always assume that GPL promoters hate copyright, but that is the opposite of reality. If copyrights are being infringed all over the place then the GPL will become worthless.
Member since:
2005-11-02
asking their opinion in whether or not it's okay to infringe upon a company's copyrights
"So when did you stop beating your wife" - the a above is a statement of that sort.
The SFLC was not asked if it is OK to infringe on a company's copyrights. It was asked to give a legal opinion on whether or not a company's copyrights had been infringed. I don't think anyone should dispute the the legal expertise in software matters or the the principled ethics of the SFLC.
Furthermore since Moglen and the SFLC lawyers are GPL supporters, it is in their interest to prevent any software copyright infringement. The GPL depends on the Bern convention and copyright law for its enforcement.