rdesktop and MochaSoft

[Vinz Focker]

MochaSoft's rdesktop port is only the tip of the iceberg wrt GPL
Violations in the Apple App store.

Regarding rdesktop: There is another quite expensive ($11.99)  iPhone
rdp client in the App store which is only available in the US App
store and available since beginning of August and seems to sell
extremely well (judging from the 270+ reviews in the App Store and the
5-star rating !)
I just got the strings from the binary from a NY friend. Guess what
.... rdesktop again.
It even has the "rdesktop" strings inside:
  .rdesktop
  .rdesktop/cache
  %s/.rdesktop/%s

But I'll wait before disclosing the findings or the name. The vendors
should have a tiny chance to fix the issue before google reads the
legal archives ... ;)

Cheers,
Vinz

On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 9:30 PM, Joseph Heenan <joseph at heenan.me.uk> wrote:
> mr wrote:
>>
>>     > a) to remove the free and paid version from App Store (only place
>> you
>>     >   can download the software). It can take a few hours before
>>     >   all App stores are updated.
>>
>>    It is my understanding that those who have already bought the paid
>>    version are entitled to the source code. You cannot simply undo the
>>    release and hope that others would forget it.
>>
>> Actually, I'm not so sure that's the case. If you breach the terms of the
>> licence you loose the right to use and distribute the covered software, I
>> don't know how that applies to previous releases.
>
> There was no licence that enabled Mochasoft to distribute the earlier
> versions.
>
> Effectively, it is the same action as if I sold copies of windows vista I'd
> made using a dvd writer. (That is, thinking about that same situation will
> give the many of the same answers about how this situation can be solved.)
>
> Essentially, it all comes down to an agreement between mochasoft and the
> copyright holder(s). The holders would be free to sue for copyright
> infringement.
>
> The people who bought the software have no right to ask for the source code,
> but I'd imagine would be within their rights to ask for a refund on the
> grounds that mochasoft was not able to legally sell them the software.
> Mochasoft could possibly avoid that be obtaining a legal license for the
> code, or by choosing to release the code.
>
> In cases likes this, I would imagine no one cares enough to do anything,
> especially given the breach has stopped, but that's really entirely up to
> the copyright holder(s).
>
> I believe the FSF policy (and I have no idea if any part of rdesktop is
> owned by the FSF or not) is to press for release of the source code, and (if
> they have had to use a lawyer) payment of their legal fees.
>
> Joseph
>
>
>