[mythtv-users] Themes licenses and vdpau

[Greg Oliver]

On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 05, 2010 11:25:29 am Robert McNamara wrote:
>> On Tue, Oct 5, 2010 at 10:20 AM, Greg Oliver <oliver.greg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > I can read Arclight's license (gpl2), but since it has restrictions on
>> > font redistribution, it may be a deal breaker..  blue-abstract has no
>> > licensing file included at all AFAIK..
>>
>> There's no real restriction on the font redistribution, both fonts are
>> redistributable without issue.  If you do redistribute them they need
>> to include a copy of their license (which basically just says, don't
>> modify these fonts and do include this license).  The rest of the
>> theme is GPLv2 so you can do with it what you please.
>
> Please do not equate the GLPv2 (or any version of the GPL) with "you can do with it what you please", it's not true.
>
> Thinking it is so led to the TiVo fiasco, and a lot of devices for which source code is difficult or impossible to obtain.
> Sometimes just by assuming that GPL meant no restrictions at all, and sometimes with a deliberate intent to violate the
> terms.
>
> The GPLs are very unrestrictive, but they are not licenses to do anything you like. It is definitely NOT like something
> being in the public domain, for example.
>
> A very common violation is to not include a copy of the GPL itself, or a link to it, causing people to not understand
> their rights.
>
>
> Sorry to be picky, but as an FSF member I feel the need to make sure the record is straight.

Well, I am pretty up on the licensing stuff too, since in my day job
at Nokia, we use quite a bit of FSF stuff..  I have to say though, if
you came to me in a lawsuit with a gpl2 license, I would bet the lives
of everyone I have ever known that you would lose..  (hence gpl3)...

I have no intention of redistributing anything I do, but I like to
sleep well..  :)  My theme modifications will only ever be used in my
home..

Good choice with tivo though - you see how long it took them to
re-write their (un/non gratis dvr software)!!!

Serves 'em right..  Would not give anything back....