[asterisk-dev] Re: [asterisk-users] Digum g729 and g723

[Roy Sigurd Karlsbakk]

>> b) is there any restriction on the copying of this code or is it GPL?
>
> Given that there are patent encumbrances on this code, that fact
> invalidates the GPL license on the files (by the GPL itself; see  
> clause
> 7) until the patents expire (sometime in 2014).  Given that the stated
> license is invalidated by the terms of the license, you have no right
> to use this code (unless the author granted you permission under a
> different license).

"7. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent  
infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),  
conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or  
otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do  
not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot  
distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under  
this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a  
consequence you may not distribute the Program at all. For example,  
if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of  
the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly  
through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this  
License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program."

IANAL, but to me it seems like if this code is GPL, such as it seems,  
then Digium is not allowed to distribute it...

>> d) before you rush off to compile this code and install it on your
>> gateways, is anyone certain that it hasn't been tampered with/booby
>> trapped?  My G.729 patches are relatively brief patches to Intel's
>> code, so it is easy to inspect my code for security.  The link given
>> here contains an archive with 40,000 lines of code - not so easy to
>> check for a backdoor.
>
> AFAIK, there has been no such examination of the code.  So in addition
> to patent infringement, your use of the code could lead to your  
> machine
> being compromised.

...and quite possibly a few STDs, bad stomachache and hairloss

roy

--
Roy Sigurd Karlsbakk
roy at karlsbakk.net
(+47) 98013356
---
In space, loud sounds, like explosions, are even louder because there  
is no air to get in the way.