PocketBook Germany refusing requests for source code (Linux, gnu)

[m***@t-online.de]

Hi guys,

PocketBook is selling numerous kindle knock offs with last generation e-ink screens. One of their strong selling points
so far is their continued promise of an SDK and source codes / modability of the system

Those devices use Linux and various GNU programs to provide functionality. People managed to gain access
http://www.the-ebook.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19171 to the system and firmware blobs for upgrades are supplied
by Pocketbook.

Requests for both the SDK and the sources have either been stonewalled or dates for presumed releases have
been given of which not a single one has been kept.

While not providing the SDK might be false advertisment it does not go against the GPL but
ignoring requests for the source code does. New devices have already
been announced for 2011 while the promises for the 2009 and 2010 devices haven't been kept.

PocketBook germany (where I bought the e-book) says they have no control over their Ukranian headquarter and thus
are not really obligated to provide anything.

Lets me know if any more information is required and what I personally can do help with this.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PocketBook_eReader

[Clemens Ladisch]

PocketBook is selling numerous kindle knock offs ...
Those devices use Linux and various GNU programs to provide functionality.
Requests for both the SDK and the sources have either been stonewalled
or dates for presumed releases have been given of which not a single
one has been kept.

What about <http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/sourcecode.shtml>?

Some forum posts somewhere on the internet say that this code is not
current, and that there is neither the GPL text nor a source code offer
shipped with the device.

Please tell us which model you have, and check whether it comes with
the GPL and an offer (this might be 'hidden' somewhere in some manual
or help document on the device itself).

PocketBook germany (where I bought the e-book) says

E-mail/letter? What did you ask them?

they have no control over their Ukranian headquarter

This might be true.

and thus are not really obligated to provide anything.

They are obligated to not violate the laws.


Regards,
Clemens

[m***@t-online.de]

Hi Clemens,

those files are wildly out of date. Any recent commits contain user generated programs for older competitions.

The files list is all 2009 and the SVN doesn't show any recent activity for all the important files.


The about page sums it up:
http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/about.shtml

We do not intended creating a completely open platform. It is a matter of politics and more politics could lead to less efficiency.

Files list:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pocketbook-free/files/

No commits in mercurial:
http://sourceforge.net/project/stats/detail.php?group_id=256609&ugn=pocketbook-free&type=hg&mode=year

No commits for any firmware or other utility besides poterm and a bunch of games since Aug. 2010
http://pocketbook-free.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/pocketbook-free/?limit_changes=0

The 903 came out xmas 2010 after a very long delay and moved release dates and had a couple of firmware updates since then.

Reards
meesa

-----Original-Nachricht-----
Subject: Re: PocketBook Germany refusing requests for source code (Linux, gnu)
Date: Mon, 09 May 2011 09:05:41 +0200

PocketBook is selling numerous kindle knock offs ...
Those devices use Linux and various GNU programs to provide functionality.
Requests for both the SDK and the sources have either been stonewalled
or dates for presumed releases have been given of which not a single
one has been kept.

What about <http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/sourcecode.shtml>?

Some forum posts somewhere on the internet say that this code is not
current, and that there is neither the GPL text nor a source code offer
shipped with the device.

Please tell us which model you have, and check whether it comes with
the GPL and an offer (this might be 'hidden' somewhere in some manual
or help document on the device itself).

PocketBook germany (where I bought the e-book) says

E-mail/letter? What did you ask them?

they have no control over their Ukranian headquarter

This might be true.

and thus are not really obligated to provide anything.

They are obligated to not violate the laws.


Regards,
Clemens

[Alexander Kerner]

Post by Clemens Ladisch

PocketBook is selling numerous kindle knock offs ...
Those devices use Linux and various GNU programs to provide functionality.
Requests for both the SDK and the sources have either been stonewalled
or dates for presumed releases have been given of which not a single
one has been kept.

What about <http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/sourcecode.shtml>?
Some forum posts somewhere on the internet say that this code is not
current, and that there is neither the GPL text nor a source code offer
shipped with the device.

This code is not complete and was not updated for a long time. For
example, there is linux kernel code for only one model (pocketbook 301,
afaik), while pocketbook sells many different models (360, 360+, 602, 603,
902, 903). There is no source code of their modifications to uboot
available. Their FBReader fork was heavily modified since the last update
of the "pocketbook-free" repository.

AFAIK, FBReader and other GPL-licensed components are dynamically linked
against their proprietary multi-purpose library libinkview. Some people
argue that this library itself is therefore subject to GPL. Can someone
confirm that?

Regards,
Alexander Kerner

[Henrik Nordström]

Post by Alexander Kerner
AFAIK, FBReader and other GPL-licensed components are dynamically linked
against their proprietary multi-purpose library libinkview. Some people
argue that this library itself is therefore subject to GPL. Can someone
confirm that?

Not neccesarily, but if it isn't then they have no valid license for
FBReader and other GPL components linking to this libraray. Not that
they appear to care about having a license to distribute the software...


Regards
Henrik

[m***@t-online.de]

Hi Clemens,

this is to answer the second part of your email. I had more time
to rummage through the original packaging of the PocketBook 903
device and I couldn't find any paper manual or pamphlet.

Post by Clemens Ladisch
Please tell us which model you have, and check whether it comes with
the GPL and an offer (this might be 'hidden' somewhere in some manual
or help document on the device itself).

The PDF manual comes with the device and is also available at
http://pocketbook.de/support/pocketbook-903/
I admit I did not read through the whole thing but a search for GPL or Linux
did not turn up anything besides the Specs saying its running Linux.

If you go to the about dialog and click on more it does say its using the following
software and lists the official project URLs for them.
Linux kernel,GNU C library, BusyBox, Poppler PDF, DjVuLibre, FBReader, Antiword, libjpeg, libpng,
libsqlite, libtiff, libungif, libexpat, fontconfig, zlib, libbz2, FreeType, SVOX, OpenSSLm, MAD Mpeg,
Liberation fonts, Dejavu Fonts, Menuet Script font

Also states "Any other modules and libraries not included in the above list are property of Western Graphics."

It lists an email ***@pocketbook.com.au to request source codes for gpl components. I will write to that email
again and post any response.

Post by Clemens Ladisch
E-mail/letter? What did you ask them?

Their quasi support forum where people from PocketBook
answer in official capacity and ***@pocketbook.com.au


Regards
meesa

[Alexander Kerner]

Post by Clemens Ladisch

PocketBook is selling numerous kindle knock offs ...
Those devices use Linux and various GNU programs to provide functionality.
Requests for both the SDK and the sources have either been stonewalled
or dates for presumed releases have been given of which not a single
one has been kept.

What about <http://pocketbook-free.sourceforge.net/en/sourcecode.shtml>?
Some forum posts somewhere on the internet say that this code is not
current, and that there is neither the GPL text nor a source code offer
shipped with the device.

This code is not complete and was not updated for a long time. For
example, there is linux kernel code for only one model (pocketbook 301,
afaik), while pocketbook sells many different models (360, 360+, 602, 603,
902, 903). There is no source code of their modifications to uboot
available. Their FBReader fork was heavily modified since the last update
of the "pocketbook-free" repository.

AFAIK, FBReader and other GPL-licensed components are dynamically linked
against their proprietary multi-purpose library libinkview. Some people
argue that this library itself is therefore subject to GPL. Can someone
confirm that?

Regards,
Alexander Kerner

[Henrik Nordström]

Post by m***@t-online.de
PocketBook germany (where I bought the e-book) says they have no control over their Ukranian headquarter and thus
are not really obligated to provide anything.

Not an excuse. It just means they can not legally sell the product until
they sort out the relation with their ukrainan headquarter.

Post by m***@t-online.de
Lets me know if any more information is required and what I personally can do help with this.

Find some authors of the software included as it's only authors of the
software who have strong legal power to require that they correct their
offering.

Regards
Henrik

[m***@t-online.de]

Post by Henrik Nordström

Post by m***@t-online.de
Lets me know if any more information is required and what I personally can do help with this.

Find some authors of the software included as it's only authors of the
software who have strong legal power to require that they correct their
offering.

Will gpl-violations also act in this matter? Any of those developers you have worked with before?


I haven't gotten any response from PocketBook so far - what is a sensible time to wait?


regards
meesa