free software to bring products to market in reasonable time. They get so

much benefit from our work.  Allowing the whole community to review, use,

improve and work with the code seems very little to ask in return.  Copyleft

also ensures competitors cannot undercut those who contribute.  Without active enforcement, the GPL is

effectively no different from a non-copyleft license.</p>

<p>What point is there for companies to make sure that they're compliant if

there are no consequences when the GPL is violated? Many will continue to

ignore the rules without enforcement.  We know that there are so many

companies that willingly comply and embrace GPL as part of their business.

Some are temporarily out of compliance and need to be brought up to speed,

but willingly comply once they realize there is an issue.  Sadly, VMware sits

in the rare but infamous class of perpetually non-compliant companies. VMware

has been aware of their noncompliance for years but actively refuses to do

the right thing.  Help us do right by those who take the code in the spirit

it was given and comply with copyleft, and stop those don't.</p>

<p>We know that copyleft isn't a favorite licensing strategy for some in our

community.  Even so, this case will help bring clarity on the question of

combined and derivative works, and is essential to the future of all software

freedom.  This case deserves support from copyleft and non-copyleft free

software communities alike.</p>

<h3>Show you care</h3>

<p>Bad actors have become complacent because they think you don't care.  A

  strong show of public support for Conservancy and Christoph's position will

  help our legal case and demonstrate the interpretive context for it.

  Please <a href="#donate-box" class="donate-now">donate</a> to our campaign to enforce the GPL.  Help Conservancy

  increase its number of individual donors, so we have clear evidence to show

  bad actors that the GPL matters to the individuals in our community.

  After you <a href="#donate-box" class="donate-now">donate</a>, go and tell the world: &ldquo;Play by the rules, @VMware. I defend the #GPL with Christoph &amp; @Conservancy. #DTRTvmware  Help at https://sfconservancy.org/supporter/ &rdquo; on your blog or microblog.

  </p>

<h3>Isn't the combined works and/or derivative works question a legal grey area?</h3>

<p>We don't think so, but this case will let the court to decide that question.

Either way, it's beneficial to our entire community to find out what the

judges think.  (Check out our <a href="/linux-compliance/vmware-lawsuit-faq.html">FAQ to find out more

information</a>.)</p>

<p>Help us pay for this expensive lawsuit and to generally defend software

  freedom and the GPL.  Help us show the world that copyleft matters.  We are excited 

  to announce an anonymous match for this campaign, where every dollar donated 

  will be matched up to $50,000. Please

  donate now: by becoming <a href="/supporter/">a Conservancy Supporter</a> or

  via <a href="#donate-box" class="donate-now">donate link on the right</a>.</p>

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