Resolving Chitech CT-PC89E GPL Copyright Violation

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

On Sun, Mar 21, 2010 at 10:44 AM, Arnoud Engelfriet
<arnoud at engelfriet.net> wrote:
> Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton wrote:
>> illegal condition was added, in direct violation of the GPL, that if a
>> deposit was given and an order placed for units, the GPL source code
>> would be provided.
>
> Just to be clear: why is this illegal? I can state any condition
> I want /before/ I give you GPL source code. If I want to give you
> the source only if you buy some hardware units, I can do that. If
> I want upfront payment I can do that.

 see below.

> The /one/ thing I cannot do is impose conditions upon me giving you
> source code after I have already given you a binary.

 precisely.  check the order of events, as described, which i will
repeat for the third or fourth time for chitech's benefit, with
clarity and simplicity.

 we have received 20 sample units.

 the 20 sample units contain the binaries.

 we have requested the source code.

 the request has been declined (and illegal conditions added).

 therefore, chitech is not in compliance with the GPL license.

 this is illegal.

 what we will now do is, if we find any CT-PC89E machines being sold
to any other OEMs, especially in the U.S. or europe, we will not
"begin negotiations" with the OEM, we will simply refer the OEM
directly to gpl-violations for them to issue a cease and desist order
against them, because we know that the factory is already in violation
of the GPL.

l.