Changeset - eeba7a3154bb
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www/conservancy/static/copyleft-compliance/vmware-lawsuit-faq.html
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@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@
 

	
 
<dl>
 
  <dt>Who is the Plaintiff in the lawsuit?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary>Who is the Plaintiff in the lawsuit?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>Christoph is one of most active developers of the Linux kernel. He has
 
  <p>Christoph is one of most active developers of the Linux kernel. He has
 
   contributed 279,653 lines of code to the latest Linux 3.19 kernel, and
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@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@
 
   code, and he has tirelessly corrected and commented on other developers'
 
   contributions.</dd>
 
   contributions.</p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt id="court-documents">Are the court documents released?</dt>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dd>Not currently.  Court proceedings are not public by default in Germany
 
  (unlike in the USA).  Conservancy will continue to update this FAQ with
 
<details>
 
  <summary id="court-documents">Are the court documents released?</summary>
 

	
 
  <p>Not currently.  Court proceedings are not public by default in Germanyg (unlike in the USA).  Conservancy will continue to update this FAQ with
 
  information that Conservancy knows about the case.  We would all also
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@@ -48,7 +51,9 @@
 
  even been able to review VMware's statement of defense nor Christoph's
 
  response to that statement of defense.</dd>
 
  response to that statement of defense.</p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt id="funding">Who's funding this lawsuit?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary id="funding">Who's funding this lawsuit?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>Conservancy has engaged in a grant agreement with Christoph Hellwig for
 
  <p>Conservancy has engaged in a grant agreement with Christoph Hellwig for
 
  the purposes of pursuing this specific legal action in Germany.
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@@ -57,7 +62,9 @@
 
  its <a href="/copyleft-compliance/about.html">GPL Compliance
 
  Project for Linux Developers</a>.</dd>
 
  Project for Linux Developers</a>.</p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt id="combined-and-derivative-works">Is this the Great Test Case of Combined / Derivative Works?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary id="combined-and-derivative-works">Is this the Great Test Case of Combined / Derivative Works?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>This case is specifically regarding a combined work that VMware
 
  <p>This case is specifically regarding a combined work that VMware
 
  allegedly created by combining their own code (&ldquo;vmkernel&rdquo;) with
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@@ -68,8 +75,9 @@
 
  derivative works that are covered by GPL that no single case could possibly
 
  include all such issues. </dd>
 
  include all such issues. </p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt id="why-lawsuit">Why must you file a lawsuit?  Isn't there any other way to convince
 
    VMware to comply with GPL?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary id="why-lawsuit">Why must you file a lawsuit?  Isn't there any other way to convince VMware to comply with GPL?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd><p>Neither Conservancy nor Christoph takes this action lightly nor without
 
  <p>Neither Conservancy nor Christoph takes this action lightly nor without
 
  exhausting every other possible alternative first.  This lawsuit is the
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@@ -123,8 +131,10 @@
 
 before filing this litigation.</p>
 
  </dd>    
 
  </p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt>What are VMware's primary defenses for their alleged copyright
 
    infringement?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary>What are VMware's primary defenses for their alleged copyright
 
    infringement?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>With the guidance of counsel, Christoph was able to provide Conservancy
 
  <p>With the guidance of counsel, Christoph was able to provide Conservancy
 
  with a high-level summary of VMware's statement of defense, which we share
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@@ -134,7 +144,9 @@
 
  vmklinux is an &ldquo;interoperability module&rdquo; which communicates
 
  through a stable interface called VMK API.</dd>
 
  through a stable interface called VMK API.</p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt>How did Christoph respond to VMware's statement of defense?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary>How did Christoph respond to VMware's statement of defense?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>Christoph's response discusses his extensive contributions to the Linux
 
  <p>Christoph's response discusses his extensive contributions to the Linux
 
  kernel and disputes the technical merits of VMware's assertions. The
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@@ -154,8 +166,10 @@
 
  the <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009L0024&from=EN">EU
 
      Directive 2009/24/EC</a>.</dd>
 
      Directive 2009/24/EC</a>.</p>
 
</details>
 

	
 
  <dt id="tech">Can you explain further how VMware incorporated code from Linux into
 
  their kernel?</dt>
 
<details>
 
  <summary id="tech">Can you explain further how VMware incorporated code from Linux into
 
  their kernel?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>
 
  <p>
 
  <p id="diagram">
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@@ -175,7 +189,9 @@
 
    (German)</a>.</p>
 
  </dd>
 
  </p>
 
  </p>details>
 

	
 
  <dt>Can you explain further in words (rather than a picture) about the central
 
  component in ESXi that the lawsuit alleges violates the GPL?</dt>
 
<dd>
 
  <details>
 
  <summary>Can you explain further in words (rather than a picture) about the central
 
  component in ESXi that the lawsuit alleges violates the GPL?</summary>
 
<p>
 
    <p>The GPL violation at issue involves VMware's ESXi product.
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@@ -200,9 +216,11 @@ Code, and for which (at least some) source code is provided.
 
           in &ldquo;vmkernel&rdquo; do make function calls to Linux's kernel code
 
      in the usual way for a single program written in C.</p></dd>
 
      in the usual way for a single program written in C.</p></p>
 
            </li>details>
 

	
 
    <dt>Doesn't VMware's &ldquo;shim layer&rdquo; insulate them from GPL
 
            <details>
 
    <summary>Doesn't VMware's &ldquo;shim layer&rdquo; insulate them from GPL
 
    obligations and allow them to keep certain code in their kernel
 
    proprietary?</dt>
 
    proprietary?</summary>
 

	
 
    <dd>
 
    <p>
 
    <p>Many in the media have talked about the possibility that VMware might
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@@ -222,7 +240,9 @@ Code, and for which (at least some) source code is provided.
 
    modifications to &ldquo;vmkernel&rdquo; in a tightly coupled manner.</p>
 
    </dd>
 
   <dt id="shim-meaningless">Is Conservancy proposing a &ldquo;shim
 
      layer&rdquo; as a viable solution for GPL compliance?</dt>
 
    </p></details>
 

	
 
    <dd>No, in fact, as we say above, Conservancy doesn't think the phrase
 
            <details>
 
   <summary id="shim-meaningless">Is Conservancy proposing a &ldquo;shim
 
      layer&rdquo; as a viable solution for GPL compliance?</summary>
 

	
 
    <p>No, in fact, as we say above, Conservancy doesn't think the phrase
 
        &ldquo;shim layer&rdquo; has any meaning, despite regular use of that
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@@ -230,8 +250,10 @@ Code, and for which (at least some) source code is provided.
 
        technological manipulation that changes the outcome of a
 
        combined/derivative work analysis.</dd>
 
        combined/derivative work analysis.</p>
 
            </details>
 

	
 
    <dt id="example">Can you give a <em>specific</em> example, with code, showing how
 
    VMware combined Linux source code with their binary-only components?</dt>
 
            <details>
 
    <summary id="example">Can you give a <em>specific</em> example, with code, showing how
 
    VMware combined Linux source code with their binary-only components?</summary>
 

	
 
     <dd><p>There are numerous examples available that show this.  The
 
     <p><p>There are numerous examples available that show this.  The
 
       details of alleged infringement specifically relating to Hellwig's
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@@ -284,3 +306,3 @@ VMKAPI_MODULE_CALL_VOID(pciDevExt-&gt;moduleID,
 
                        linuxDev);
 
</pre>        
 
</pre>
 

	
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@@ -478,6 +500,8 @@ static struct pci_driver tg3_driver = {
 
  as well as ESXi 5.5 Update 2 and found nearly identical results.</p>
 
</p>details>
 

	
 
<dt id="verify">How can I verify Conservancy's technical findings above?</dt>
 
<details>
 
<summary id="verify">How can I verify Conservancy's technical findings above?</summary>
 

	
 
<dd><p>The binary and source packages mentioned above are available
 
<p><p>The binary and source packages mentioned above are available
 
on VMware's website.  These packages contain the
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@@ -579,7 +603,9 @@ at <code>bin/vmtar</code> inside
 
  discusses above.</p>
 
  </p>details>
 

	
 
<dt id="similarity-analysis">How do you know Christoph's code is present in
 
  VMware's work?</dt>
 
  <details>
 
<summary id="similarity-analysis">How do you know Christoph's code is present in
 
  VMware's work?</summary>
 

	
 
<dd>Conservancy
 
<p>Conservancy
 
published <a href="/copyleft-compliance/vmware-code-similarity.html">its
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@@ -589,8 +615,10 @@ to find Christoph's contributions from Christoph, and (b) use a widely
 
accepted and heavily academically cited tool, CCFinderX, to show that VMware
 
copied Christoph's code into their product.</dd>
 
copied Christoph's code into their product.</p>
 
  </details>
 

	
 
<dt id="appeal">I heard that Christoph's case was dismissed.  Is that
 
  true?</dt>
 
  <details>
 
<summary id="appeal">I heard that Christoph's case was dismissed.  Is that
 
  true?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>There was a ruling in July 2016 in the Hamburg District Court, which
 
  <p>There was a ruling in July 2016 in the Hamburg District Court, which
 
    dismissed Christoph's case against VMware.  The ruling concerned German
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@@ -607,5 +635,7 @@ copied Christoph's code into their product.</dd>
 
    information in Linux's Git repositories. In addition, the Court chose not
 
    to seek expert testimony.</dd>
 
  <dt id="statements-of-support">Have others issued statements of support about this action?</dt>
 
  <dd>Various individuals and groups have publicly stated their support for
 
    to see</p>details>
 

	
 
  <details>k expert testimony.</p>
 
  <summary id="statements-of-support">Have others issued statements of support about this action?</summary>
 
  <p>Various individuals and groups have publicly stated their support for
 
    Conservancy's and Hellwig's actions in this matter.  They include:
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@@ -633,5 +663,7 @@ copied Christoph's code into their product.</dd>
 
    </ul>
 
  </dd>
 
  </p>
 
  </details>
 

	
 
<dt>I
 
  <details>
 
<summary>I
 
see <a href="https://fsf.org/news/conservancy-and-christoph-hellwig-gpl-enforcement-lawsuit">FSF's
...
 
@@ -639,5 +671,5 @@ statement of support</a>, but why
 
isn't <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/compliance">FSF enforcing</a> in
 
this case?</dt>
 
this case?</summary>
 

	
 
<dd>While FSF are the authors and license steward of the GNU GPL, it's up to
 
<p>While FSF are the authors and license steward of the GNU GPL, it's up to
 
the copyright holder to enforce GPL.  VMware created an operating system by
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@@ -650,7 +682,9 @@ exclusively on various parts of the GNU system, not on the kernel, Linux.  As
 
such, FSF probably does not have copyright interests available to directly
 
enforce the GPL regarding the primary issue in this case.</dd>
 
enforce the GPL regarding the primary issue in this case.</p>
 
  </details>
 

	
 
  <dt><em>I</em> care about copyleft and the GPL.  How can I help?</dt>
 
  <details>
 
  <summary><em>I</em> care about copyleft and the GPL.  How can I help?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>Conservancy needs <a href="#donate-box" class="donate-now">your immediate financial
 
  <p>Conservancy needs <a href="#donate-box" class="donate-now">your immediate financial
 
  support to proceed with this litigation</a>.  Litigation costs are
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@@ -663,7 +697,9 @@ enforce the GPL regarding the primary issue in this case.</dd>
 
  to <a href="mailto:info@sfconservancy.org">&lt;info@sfconservancy.org&gt;</a>,
 
  as we'd like to include representative selection of supportive statements above.</dd>
 
  as we'd like to include representative selection of supportive statements above.</p>
 
  </details>
 

	
 
  <dt>Why is the case in Germany?</dt>
 
  <details>
 
  <summary>Why is the case in Germany?</summary>
 

	
 
  <dd>Copyright infringement claims can be brought anywhere that distribution
 
  <p>Copyright infringement claims can be brought anywhere that distribution
 
  of the copyrighted works occur.  VMware distributes ESXi throughout the
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@@ -672,5 +708,4 @@ enforce the GPL regarding the primary issue in this case.</dd>
 
  Mr. Jaeger's cases in Germany have usually achieved worldwide compliance on
 
  the products at issue in those cases.</dd>
 
  
 
</dl>
 
  the products at issue in those cases.</p>
 
  </details>
 
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www/conservancy/static/css/conservancy.css
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<div id="mainContent">
 
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