Possible GPL violation in Linux-based IPTV set top box

Possible GPL violation in Linux-based IPTV set top box

[Robert Kelly III]

The company I work for, SkyAngel, has recently swapped from satelite broadcast 
to IPTV. The set top box we are using runs Linux according to NeuLion, our 
partner company who supplies the STB. When we distribute the set top boxes, 
however, there is no disclaimer of warranty, copy of the GPL, offer for 
source code, or any mention of Linux as far as I can find. Isn't this a 
violation of the GPL and your copyright? I have raised concerns about the 
situation, but everyone here seems convinced it is somehow ok. 

What should be done about this? I am not sure who would be responsible as it 
seems NeuLion or some associate makes the STB and takes care of the software, 
but we sell it to our customers. Is there any possible way I might have 
missed that this could actually be permissible?

Robert A. Kelly III

Re: Possible GPL violation in Linux-based IPTV set top box

[Arjan van de Ven]

On Sun, 4 May 2008 23:47:24 -0400
Robert Kelly III <bluethegrappler@gmail.com> wrote:

> The company I work for, SkyAngel, has recently swapped from satelite
> broadcast to IPTV. The set top box we are using runs Linux according
> to NeuLion, our partner company who supplies the STB. When we
> distribute the set top boxes, however, there is no disclaimer of
> warranty, copy of the GPL, offer for source code, or any mention of
> Linux as far as I can find. Isn't this a violation of the GPL and
> your copyright? I have raised concerns about the situation, but
> everyone here seems convinced it is somehow ok. 
> 
> What should be done about this? I am not sure who would be
> responsible as it seems NeuLion or some associate makes the STB and
> takes care of the software, but we sell it to our customers. Is there
> any possible way I might have missed that this could actually be
> permissible?

you should ask a lawyer, not here; your question is offtopic for this
list... there's no lawyers here.

Or if that's a really big step, you could ask Harald Welte or the
Software Freedom Law Center; both have a lot of experience with this
sort of thing.