Sun's use of GPL and/or debian source

[Daniel Jacobowitz]

On Tue, Aug 14, 2001 at 11:35:59PM -0700, Alan DuBoff wrote:
> Recentely I was working a short contract for a client using Solaris x86. They
> had me setup a Linux system to compare against. While doing so I noticed that
> Sun now ships a Companion CD with various GPL tools that install in /opt/sfw/
> on a Solaris system (x86 or SPARC).
> 
> Something I noticed that was kinda odd was that there was debian directories
> within the /opt/sfw/src/ directories where all of the source code was.
> 
> This got me to thinking about what implications there would be for Sun to do
> such a thing, and they are obviously within the restrictions of the GPL to do
> so, as they are providing the source changes that they made, but it seems
> wrong.
> 
> They obviously started from the debian source for at least some of those
> tools, but not all of them had a debian directory in them, only some.
> 
> Even though they are probably within their restrictions of the GPL code, it
> seems like they're raping debian for the use of their source for their
> proprietary OS. The Companion CD doesn't install by default and the user needs
> to install it seperately, and Sun's changes seem to only reflect the renaming
> of the programs, from tar to gtar, locate to glocate, etc...presumably to
> designate between GNU and SYSVR4.
> 
> Comments anyone? Maybe a question for the Geek Law man whose column I've seen
> in the back of Linux Journal recentely.

There's only one question that matters, really.  Do they restrict use
or redistribution, or in any way explicitly violate the license?

You'll notice, if you look hard enough, that Hard Hat Linux does much
the same thing.  The differences, legally, are negligible - despite the
fact that HHL is free and Solaris is not.  We're obviously careful to
stay within the license, and if Sun has any sense or any lawyers, they
are too.

-- 
Daniel Jacobowitz                           Carnegie Mellon University
MontaVista Software                         Debian GNU/Linux Developer