Re: Possible GPL Violation of Linux in Amstrad's E3 Videophone

Kyle Moffett
2004-10-04T00:23:12Z

On Oct 03, 2004, at 18:01, Alan Cox wrote:
> On Sul, 2004-10-03 at 12:46, Willy Tarreau wrote:
>> Hmmm interesting clause which would make them think before they steal
>> the
>> code. Perhaps they would take more time to separate open and closed
>> code
>> then. The problem is to define whom this money should be sent to.
>
> Well I was thinking the $100,000 would just be for the bits I wrote in
> that one file or that one driver, ....

Wow, that would quickly add up. $100,000 for John Smith's 20 line
patch,
$100,000 for Jane Hacker's 2 line patch, etc. Ok, under said
theoretical
conditions an infringer might owe a _lot_ of money:
$100,000 * 20 hackers * 200 copies sold = $400 million

Heh. At some point the court has to clamp the damages, but those kinds
of
numbers would definitely get some attention from the legal staff of said
hypothetical company.

Cheers,
Kyle Moffett