In a lot of the cases for ZTE you could go after the ISP since the routers/modems are branded with ISP logo's etc and exclusively distributed to ISP customers.
On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 8:05 AM, Arnt Karlsen <[email protected]> wrote: > On Fri, 25 Oct 2013 11:35:57 +0200, Nils wrote in message > <[email protected]>: > > > Am 24.10.2013 16:56, schrieb James Hilliard: > > > The Chinese ZTE company appears to be ignoring GPL requirements in > > > numerous markets especially in Europe. They appear to manufacture > > > numerous routers/DSL modems that use the linux kernel and they do > > > not distribute any source code for anything as far as I can tell or > > > provide any GPL written offers. I have done an analysis of some of > > > their DSL modems that all appear to be using the Linux kernel and > > > likely other GPL code. When contacted they appear uncooperative in > > > fixing this issue but admit that the routers use Linux. > > > > Oh great, I mean the case of ZTE :( > > > > But this is something that is pretty common for Chinese hardware > > makers > > - look at all those cheap Android devices floating around. For most of > > them you do not get anything and I am almost sure that most even run > > without proper licensing of the multi media codecs too. > > > > It is pretty hard to enforce this. > > ..bull. The ZTE etc phones you see in malls etc shops, you buy > from "that shop", not from ZTE etc. So go after the shops. > Linux is found not just in ZTE cell phones, but also Samsung phones, > Linksys routers, TV sets, stoves, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, > etc. So, ask your shop for ZTE GPL source, and tell them about S/W > piracy law enforcement and recycling costs. ;o) > > > > Within China you have basically no > > chance. Within a western country the best thing one could do is to > > threaten the maker with an import embargo. This could be achieved when > > the issue is taken to the local offcials dealing with "intellectual > > property rights". But this has only seldomly been done, as far as I > > know. And for all the small makers it would not help either - once you > > achieved one embargo they will simply switch the brand/name/model and > > off they go again - been there, seen that. For a large company like > > ZTE that wants to get more ground in western countries now (which > > used to be a China/Asia only brand) this could though be a little > > different case. > > > > But yes, this really aggravates me too for some time, that Asian > > manufacturers basically ignore most of it, making a business from it > > and thus have an unfair competetive advantage compared to western > > makers that (have to) respect it. > > > > Cheers > > nils > > > > > > > -- > ..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt Karlsen > ...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry... > Scenarios always come in sets of three: > best case, worst case, and just in case. > >
