Matthew Garrett ([info]mjg59) wrote,
2010-09-09 09:58:00

Things

The last few months have been busier than I expected, resulting in various failures to get stuff done. The good news is that things are a little more relaxed now and I'm gradually catching up, but if you've emailed me and I haven't replied then you should probably do so again.

A couple of updates - the source code for the Augen Android tablets I wrote about still hasn't been released, but the vendor does seem to be doing their best. Their supplier seems to be refusing to hand over the source code (they were given a tarball that was supposed to be it, but in fact just turned out to be the various GPLed bits of Android) and they're obviously stuck between a rock and a hard place. The obvious observation is that they should have done due diligence before starting to ship these things, but given that they're out in the wild and they're trying to improve things it seems reasonable to carry on working to try to obtain the source rather than insisting that kmart stop selling them.

Fusion Garage, on the other hand, are still failing to provide source and seem entirely unconcerned about it - they've failed to respond to any of my emails since the first. Augen aren't providing source because they can't, while Fusion Garage aren't providing source because they won't. Irked by this, I've decided to try Don Marti's suggestion and file a case with US Customs. I'll admit that I have absolutely no idea how seriously these cases get taken, and so I've no great expectation of any sort of interesting outcome. But even so, if you're in the US and try to buy a Joojoo then there's a chance that it'll be seized by US customs on the way in.
Tags: advogato, fedora

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  • 18 comments

Anonymous

September 9 2010, 16:36:50 UTC 1 year ago

tcc8902 kernel source

In case of the Augen tablet kernel source, there are two issues. The first one of course is getting to manufacturer of the CPU (Telechips) and the device into compliance with the license, which includes not only providing the source but also make people aware that they have a right to have it.

The other issue is getting the source code itself, which has been floating around the web for some time, after the SmartQ 7 tablet had the same problem. It's using the same CPU, and a 2.6.28 kernel patch can be found at http://rghost.net/953775.

[info]malpers

September 9 2010, 18:00:22 UTC 1 year ago

Fusion Garage joojoo

Hi Matthew,
I am with the Fusion Garage media relations team, and we would like to learn more about what you've brought up in your post. Can we discuss this at your earliest convenience? You can reach me via phone at 408-727-0351.
Best,
Megan

Anonymous

September 11 2010, 00:43:51 UTC 1 year ago

Re: Fusion Garage joojoo

Matthew, please do blog about the result of this contact.

[info]mjg59

September 11 2010, 00:48:30 UTC 1 year ago

Re: Fusion Garage joojoo

I had a conversation with an employee of their PR company, and they've promised that this issue will be raised with Fusion Garage. I'll post when there's further progress.

Anonymous

September 12 2010, 05:28:05 UTC 1 year ago

Re: Fusion Garage joojoo

A: "We appear to have a potential legal problem. Sounds like complicated and technical engineering stuff."

B: "Let's get a PR person on it right away."

--Branden

Anonymous

September 12 2010, 20:24:01 UTC 1 year ago

Re: Fusion Garage joojoo

*laughs*

More seriously, one of PR's roles is to spot discussions about their client which can lead to bad press and ensure they get proper attention within the company.


[info]Bruce Perens

September 12 2010, 21:57:23 UTC 1 year ago

compliance help

I left a message for you, Megan. I advise law firms and corporate management on how to comply with Open Source licenses. Info on me is in Wikipedia. - Bruce

Anonymous

September 13 2010, 04:49:49 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

Wow, you've actually been reduced to ambulance chasing. Classy.

[info]Bruce Perens

September 13 2010, 05:09:19 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

Well, I knew someone would say this. And I did it anyway. The fact is, if we want to get companies like this into compliance, we need someone to prosecute them (or at least threaten prosecution strongly enough to get them to notice), and we need someone on their side to tell them how to comply. And unfortunately most attorneys don't know a thing about Open Source. I've played a part in lots of prosecutions, the most recent when I was an expert witness, for free, in the Jacobsen v. Katzer case. I also advise a lot of companies whose names end in "com", and car parts companies, web companies, and "Government Support Systems" companies, on how to comply with Open Source licenses. I even helped Google straighten out its WebM codec license, for free.

And frankly, I have tremendous sympathy for anyone who is in a fight with Matthew Garrett. And if I can piss him off a bit, even better :-)

So there.

Anonymous

September 13 2010, 13:26:11 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

I'm sorry, who are you?

Anonymous

September 13 2010, 16:42:46 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

Here is some info about Bruce:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Perens
http://perens.com/about/bio/

[info]macoafi

September 14 2010, 03:07:36 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

Don't forget Bruce Perens does not speak for me (list currently at 131 names)

Anonymous

September 14 2010, 03:50:37 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

Well, I was going to ask why Bruce had so much sympathy for the folks Garrett was going after. But after seeing that I understand Bruce perfectly.

[info]benanov

September 21 2010, 03:04:39 UTC 1 year ago

I love how Bruce Perens has his own "fan club". It's so...cute.

I will say this: if the goal is GPL compliance, it makes sense to burn the candle at both ends. If the goal is to punish Fusion Garage, it doesn't make sense at all to be working against each other.

Beyond that... Bruce already doesn't speak for me, I never gave him power of attorney.

Anonymous

September 15 2010, 10:15:24 UTC 1 year ago

Re: compliance help

The idea is not to "punish" anyone, it's to get the companies doing the right thing. calling Bruce may be one of the best options they have.

Anonymous

September 10 2010, 16:55:46 UTC 1 year ago

Please let the companies know!

Please make sure that all these companies know that you've filed with U.S. customs. That may get them to actually solve the problem. I don't know how much U.S. customs does with this either, but if I were these companies I wouldn't want to wait and find out. My guess is that it takes some time for U.S. customs to verify a claim; if they hurry, the companies could get rid of the problem before U.S. customs determines they're in violation.

[info]mjg59

September 10 2010, 16:58:01 UTC 1 year ago

Re: Please let the companies know!

I let them know about a month in advance, and sent them a further update once I'd actually done so.

Anonymous

September 12 2010, 00:20:20 UTC 1 year ago

Fusion Garage - Are they in Singapore?

Read your post and did a google. Noticed that Fusion Garage is actually located in Singapore.

Understand that Singapore is one of the most law abiding places, a country that takes it's law VERY seriously.

Maybe I am naive, but ever tried to write in to the Law Ministry and seek their advise?

Or get in touch with opensource people over there (Google, Red Hat, Novell etc have companies in Singapore) and see if they can help.
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