[Asterisk-Dev] GPL Violation http://www.asteriskwin32.com/

[Johnathan Corgan]

Preston Garrison wrote:

> Damn give the guy a break, if it was me i would tell you all where you 
> could shove it.

Hmmm.

The developer in question is to be commended for taking on the task of 
getting Asterisk to run in a Win32/Cygwin environment.

His promises notwithstanding, though, he actually really is infringing 
on the Asterisk copyright at this point.

Nothing gives him permission to distribute the files that he does on his 
website, which contain files copyrighted by Mark Spencer (and others), 
except his prior agreement to the terms of the GNU GPL.  These terms 
include providing, on demand, the original and modified source code he 
used to create the files he is now distributing.  This license he agreed 
to is very clear on this point.  (And if he didn't agree to it, he does 
not then have any permission to distribute what he is on the website.)

It's not a matter of best-effort, or when he thinks the files are 
"ready" for distribution.

So it's not like anyone is being unreasonable for asking him for what he 
had already agreed to and is actually legally bound to provide.

I remember when the announcement came out; I thought this was pretty 
cool and looked forward to seeing how it worked.  I don't think anyone 
is saying to him his efforts are wrong, he again just needs to follow 
through with what he already agreed to--release the modifications to the 
source code he began with.

-Johnathan