I robbed the thread titled "[News] McAfee Licks Microsoft Boots by Doing FUD
Work, Does Crime" and append this one to it.
I have no idea where this is going to go, but I'm sure to open a few eyes
along the way...
>Jerry McBride wrote:
>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>
>> McAfee throws some FUD at the GPL
>>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>> | In its annual report, Windows security software vendor McAfee told its
>> | investors that open source software licence terms it vaguely
>> | characterised as " ambiguous" might "result in unanticipated
>> | obligations regarding our products."
>> |
>> | [...]
>> |
>> | That statement says several things. First, it reveals that McAfee does
>> | use at least some open source software derived code in its products.
>
> ----snip----
>
> I just emailed McAfee Tech Support asking for the URL containing the
> downloadable, GPL licensed source code...
>
> This ought to be interesting...
Originally, this all started out as an exercise of the freedom of speech and
blind curiosity. My interest was came about after McAfee alluded to the
fact that they use GPL software in the creation of their proprietary
offerings... If that is fact, then where's the sources?
And so it begins with me entering a request via the McAfee website...
Here's a copy of my original request, simple and to the point:
#### my request for source code ####
I just read an article that your company uses GPL licensed source code.
Would you be so kind as to give me the URL where I can download the sources
that you use, as required by the GPL?
Thank You, Jerry
#### end of original request ####
Here's the response from McAfee for my source code request. It's painfully
obvious that the tier 1 tech had no clue what I getting on about...:
#### start of McAfee response ####
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 16:18:53 -0800 (PST)
From: McAfee NA Customer Service
To: jmcbride@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: McAfee Customer Service - Service Request #81456567
Dear Jerry,
Thank you for contacting McAfee Customer Service.
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience but I am unable to understand
your message. Please rephrase and resend your issue in detail so that I can
assist you more efficiently.
I would like to inform you that McAfee Customer Service can only answer
issues related to McAfee.
Please include your previous correspondence when you reply to this e-mail.
Your reference number for this contact is 81456567.
Sincerely,
Venj V.
McAfee CS-Tier 1
#### end of McAfee response ####
And here is my rephrased request, sent this afternoon... This is much better
worded and includes a bit educational material that may help the McAfee
tech in gathering together this next response... Who knows, maybe a Tier 2
response is in the making... :')
#### my rephrased request for source code ####
Dear Sir,
The company that you work for, McAfee, develops and sells software.
Apparently, included in your software are third party contributions
protected under the General Public License, otherwise known as the GPL.
The GPL license stipulates that your company can indeed use GPL-licensed
software to develop the products which McAfee sells, provided that you
make modification to the GPL-licensed source code available and freely
accessible for public use. If GPL code that you added to software was
changed by you, then under those provisions of the GPL I request access
to the source code of parts of your products that make use of the
GPL-licensed source code.
To help you understand what is being requested, here are some relevant
URLs that support my request for relevant McAfee source code. A copy of
the licence is typically accompanied with the source code that you
download for use and the language is clear enough to ensure
understanding of use (there are no 'hidden' expectations and surprising
obligations).
The General Public License 2.0 can be found at:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.txt
There is an excellent FAQ that explains the terms of the GPL at:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html
One of the relevant points leading to my request for your source code being:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#LinkingWithGPL
The URL's where your company, McAfee, admits to using GPL'd source code
in your products may be found at:
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/05/mcafee-throws-fud-gpl
Additionally see:
http://www.crn.com/security/205600714
I await your next message containing the location on the McAfee website
where I can freely access the sources. If GPL-licensed code was never
modified and the articles above are incorrect, then I apologize in advance.
Thank you very much for accepting my query.
Jerry
#### end of rephrased request ####
Cheers all....
--
Jerry McBride (jmcbride@xxxxxxxxxx)
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