From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S265773AbUGJAc5 (ORCPT ); Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:32:57 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S265875AbUGJAc5 (ORCPT ); Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:32:57 -0400 Received: from mail007.syd.optusnet.com.au ([211.29.132.55]:24197 "EHLO mail007.syd.optusnet.com.au") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S265773AbUGJAcz (ORCPT ); Fri, 9 Jul 2004 20:32:55 -0400 From: "Robert Lowery" To: Subject: [OT] Belkin Bluetooth Access Point GPL violation Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 10:34:47 +1000 Message-ID: <000001c46615$b4608fb0$0302a8c0@vaio> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.2627 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1409 Importance: Normal Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org I recently purchase a Belkin Bluetooth Access Point with USB Print Server http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_ Id=200583&pcount=&Product_Id=134669 By telnetting into it, I was able to find that it runs linux, specifically uClinux version 2.0.38.1pre7arm. Investigating further, I found the device is made by www.rovingnetworks.com The latest version of firmware may be obtained from http://www.belkin.com/firmware/bluetooth/f8t030/flash.bin or a beta version that includes PAN support at www.rovingnetworks.com/belkinpan4.bin I contacted them at support@rovingnetworks.com Mike Conrad replied to my request. Initially, he said they wanted $5000 for a source code license. When I Informed him of their GPL violation, he said "you could possibly have the linux os changes we made, but our bluetooth stack, for example, is not covered under the GPL. And we have special tools that enable web download, and create the image that is loaded, etc." Looking at the running system, it is not running any kernel modules, so I would expect the bluetooth stack to be compiled into the kernel proper, which in my understanding would mean they have to release the source. This was a few weeks ago. I contacted him today to see what they had decided and got "The developer who works on it here was on vacation, now he is back but swamped with work. It is not a very high priority for us. We may put something out, but I would not hold your breath for it." Would any one on the list be interested in taking this further? My main interest in this would be be to add additional USB support eg USB mass storage -Robert