V3.0.1: Request for Source Code

[JeroenSt]

I would like to request the sources for firmware V3.0.1 used in MED600X3D which is probably under GPL license (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html)

Can you provide a link for downloading this?

Thank you!

[jer1956]

Under the licence you have access to  any code "based on GPL source".  Any maker  has the right to create their own program which  works alongside GPL. So there is a link to  the source of the GPL code and that means you  would in the same boat as a developer...but with no SDK.  That means you start with a basic player as supplied by realtek.  You can then turn that into  the player you want.


http://www.mede8erforum.com/index.php/topic,8979.0.html


Sanji see their "added" code as commercial, and have not registered it as GPL.

This is form the site you linked:-

However, in many cases you can distribute the GPL-covered software alongside your proprietary system. To do this validly, you must make sure that the free and non-free programs communicate at arms length, that they are not combined in a way that would make them effectively a single program.

The above statement is very imprecise. What in system terms is "arms length"?  When do  two  things working in the same system work close enough to  be "effectively a single program"?  

Basically what Sanji are trying to do is allowed...the only debate is whether other parties believe how they have done it satisifies the previous imprecise quote.  

[JeroenSt]

Well according to GPL all code that links to GPL code is also infected with gpl.

LGPL has an exception, when LGPL code is dynamicly linked, it won't infect the other program.

Programs that use GPL libraries are also GPL and should be available.

Programs that use LGPL libraries dynamicly may stay closed although I think the object code should be available in order to re-link to changed (L)GPL code.

All changed code of both GPL and LGPL should be available (like patches or c sources).

All changed scripts of both GPL and LGPL should be available (like a dhcpc script that is created by changing the original dhcpc script file).

Of course when a GPL program is running but controlled by a pipe, a socket or a netlink socket or anything that doesn't hook into te program itself  then the code that is controlling the GPL program may stay closed.

It would be a strange thing when a windows machine connecting to a linux samba server has to be open source for example  ;-)

Is the source package provided in the post referred to also up to date to the latest version (3.0.1)?

Thanx for helping!

[jer1956]

Please don't just ignore the quote given from "your" website link as if it doesn't exist, like some kind of inconvenient  truth. I made perfectly clear you are not going to get access to  code considered proprietary.   You can have the GPL part only, which  the basic player as supplied by Realtek.  That has nothing to  do  with Sanji's revision numbers for their propriotary code.

Don't go  thinking that any debate on the forum is going to  get Sanji  to  change their view.  Concepts like  "arms length" and  "effectively a single program" are too  vague to  be absolute.   If you  think  your right take it up with GNU.org, but Linux as a host for propriatary software would be dead in the water if GPL has no accommodation for it.    

[JeroenSt]

I'm not contacting GNU, I don't want mede8er to be in problems, but GPL can force a production stop if it's not respected.

I have downloaded the sources indeed, but I can't do anything with it.

Let's end the story about GPL and sources.

Thanx for helping out!  :-)