On Wed, 2002-05-22 at 21:47, phil hunt wrote:
Sony have released in Europe a Linux kit for their Playstation 2 game console. (Previously, the Linux kit was not available in Europe).
Unfortunately their licensing terms (visible on the web at http://www.linuxplay.com/eula.html) appear to be in violation of the GPL. The EULA states: NON COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. You may install and use the Software only with a PlayStation??Computer Entertainment System. You may not copy, modify or transfer the Software"
It also states:
This product contains Sony Computer Entertainment Inc proprietary software ("Software") and third party proprietary software ("Third Party Software")
Sadly, it is not possible to infringe the GPL unless you actually licence your software with it :/ Given they describe it as software they have copyright on, and is proprietary, it's likely that this EULA applies to the parts of the software that they have added to the kit to get it to work - hardware drivers, physics modules spring to mind (I assume the 3rd party software they refer to is their physics engine).
Now, if they have modified GPL software in order to make their system work, that is a different matter, but one that (I suspect) would be difficult to prove. If someone recieves a CD and there is no invitation to the source for the software, then it's possible there is an infringement, and it's worth finding out. And of course, we should invite them to make Free what is currently proprietary so that people are able to distribute Free Software based on this system - TuxRacer, bzflag, et al, should be possible.
Cheers,
Alex.