Techrights

Free Software Foundation Subpoenaed by Serial GPL Infringers

Posted by Roy Schestowitz on May 01, 2024,

updated May 01, 2024

It was only quickly noted in the sister site yesterday, but the "FSF [is] to be deposed" over GPL enforcement. The key part:

Vizio's attempt to leverage an FSF FAQ to avoid being held accountable under the GNU GPL is both malicious and ironic. Users should be free to enforce their right to source code under the GNU GPL licenses through any available legal mechanism, without having to rely on a copyright holder to take action.

Further down it says: "We are preparing to deliver deposition testimony in response to Vizio's subpoena. We will continue to closely monitor the case, and we support the SFC in their efforts. Needless to say, a court decision confirming users' standing to enforce their right to source code under the GNU GPL licenses would be a great help in ensuring software freedom."

They comment on the financial aspect: "The FSF invests much of our limited resources in activities that safeguard enforcement of the GNU GPL licenses, which includes extensive preparation for this deposition with legal counsel."

The mission of some SFC associates has been to 'cancel' the people who made the GPL, notably Professor Moglen and Dr. Stallman (rms). They want to attack rms to make the FSF like Wikileaks post-Assange (he hasn't been free for about 13 years already).

Dragging the FSF into the SFC case seems unnecessary and disingenuous, but then again, the forces that attack the GPL (which include the Linux Foundation and Microsoft's front group, OSI) want the GPL's "final word" to be theirs.

These attacks on software freedom are subsidised by serial GPL infringers. █