"amicus_curious" <ACDC@sti.net> writes:
What is kind of interesting here is that the GPL purists,
notably SJVN, a Linux blogger of note, is insisting that
TomTom be barred from making any kind of patent deal with Mr.
Softee....
Welcome to the workings of the adversary system of justice.
Maybe this is the first time you are being exposed to it.
Here's how it works.
The copyright owner, and those cheering for the copyright
owner, will ask for the earth and the moon and an injunction
prohibiting any further copying. Sometimes the injunction is
granted. You might recall the famous mp3.com case, in which the
RIAA and its members essentially wiped out a
half-billion-dollar company overnight with an injunction.
The defendant, on the other hand, and those cheering for it
(typically including you and Rjack :-) may make pious claims
and act hurt like wounded puppies (we are shocked, shocked!)
and may argue that there is no infringement at all. Or even
that there is no valid copyright at all, like what JMRI argued.
What will really happen? We don't know yet. The only thing we
can be sure about is that there will be a lot of posturing from
both sides.
Often, there is a settlement which gives something to each
side.
However, so far as I know, none of the Linux kernel copyright
holders has yet sued Tom-Tom, and we don't know that there even
will be such a lawsuit. So you can wait for the game to start
before you start cheering for your side. --