Copyright infringement in GNOME screen saver and derivative projects

[piorunz]

Original post:
https://www.phoronix.com/forums/foru...62#post1235262

Source: https://www.jwz.org/blog/2021/01/i-t...-2021-edition/
Why hasn't this been published yet on Phoronix? This is very important issue affecting most of Linux distros, which can be in violation of BSD license!

[coder]

Original post:
https://www.phoronix.com/forums/foru...62#post1235262

Source: https://www.jwz.org/blog/2021/01/i-t...-2021-edition/
Why hasn't this been published yet on Phoronix? This is very important issue affecting most of Linux distros, which can be in violation of BSD license!

If he really cares, he should just file a lawsuit, or at least send them a Cease-and-Desist letter. That's the point of copyright, and it would certainly get their attention. Copyright violations are a civil infringement, not a criminal one.

[piorunz]

I never said this is criminal infringement. I hope this guy does it and goes to court with it, as McCann is behaving like a buffoon and deserves it! He gives open source community a bad name.

[piorunz]

phoronix Why hasn't this been published here yet?

[coder]

I never said this is criminal infringement.

I know. I'm just pointing out what his options are. I think he's already established that complaining about it isn't going to get anywhere.

[Weasel]

phoronix Why hasn't this been published here yet?

He won't badmouth GNOME obviously, all his articles are beyond biased.

[tildearrow]

Are you sure that BSD license doesn't allow relicensing?

[coder]

Are you sure that BSD license doesn't allow relicensing?

It certainly doesn't permit removing the original author's name and reassigning the copyright to yourself! The original author can of course reassign the copyright, but he claims he did no such thing.

What you can do is add to the copyright, indicating which portions are copyright by the additional author(s).