[Noisebridge-discuss] google issues "cease and desist" to android developer

[Evan Martin]

Android phones = open source operating system + open source apps +
some closed source Google apps.

For example the standard "email" program (which speaks IMAP) is open
and there's a vibrant fork of it: http://code.google.com/p/k9mail/ .
But there's also a gmail-specific mail app that would guess isn't open
source.

Cyanogen distributed both the free and non-free bits, got a C&D for the latter.

It's not clear to me why Google cares though.  I heard that the closed
apps were unmodified.  I've heard rumors that the company that
provides the data that makes the maps app work is especially
protective, but don't let my mention of that in any way suggest that
it's not just stupid policymakers at the Goog.  Speaking of stupid
policies, see also http://jwz.livejournal.com/1096401.html .

(Not speaking on behalf of employer etc.)

On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 10:45 AM, Michael Shiloh
<michaelshiloh1010 at gmail.com> wrote:
> this is quite interesting and i'd love to hear your perspectives, since
> many of you are much more knowledgeable than i am in this matter:
>
> "The Android programmer who goes by the handle “Cyanogen” was issued a
> legal “Cease and Desist” order from Google’s legal team. Cyanogen is one
> of the numerous programmers who have embraced the open source Android
> project with vigor by downloading the Android source from the Android
> Open Source Project’s repository and actually improved it. Did anyone
> notice? Yes — word has it they there are over 30,000 active users of his
> code. The problem is, Google doesn’t like it when their “closed source”
> applications are redistributed.
>
> what does this all mean?
>
> full story:
>
> http://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7544/1.html
> _______________________________________________
> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>