Avoid GPL violations with OpenLogic's Open Source Fulfillment Center

The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) and IP Netfilter Project have brought legal actions against a number of companies which use software licensed under the General Public Licence in their products, but fail to meet the licensing conditions imposed by the GPL. American company OpenLogic is now offering an Open Source Fulfillment Center service aimed at helping companies take steps in advance to avoid facing this kind of legal action.

The service includes advice and assistance on planning how development needs to be carried out so that it meets the conditions of the open source licences used, advice on what code needs to be published, checking for open source components within source code, identification of relevant open source licences and a website via which OpenLogic makes source code available to its customers.

The most significant component of the service is the audit, which provides customers with a detailed report listing all obligations arising from open source licences used and any licence violations – with OpenLogic taking full responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. In the event of legal action, customers have a validated report on the licensing situation for their software or embedded device and are also indemnified by OpenLogic should the report be found to contain any inaccuracies.

See also:

• Complying with the GPL: How to Avoid Being Named in the Next GPL Lawsuit, an OpenLogic blog post.

(crve)