Android Accused Of Violating Linux License, Could Have To Offer All Apps Free
Well well well! for so long Google’s Android operating system has moved from strength to strength, but all of this happy press had to come to an end at some point and it has come to an end at the hands of a US Attorney.
According to an article written by Edward J. Naughton, an attorney and partner at the international law firm Brown Rudnick, a key component of Android, “the Bionic Library”, was created using Linux software code that was never meant to be used by application developers and manufacturers alike. This subsequently has moved on to hard accusations, including Google ‘lifting heavy amounts of Linux code’ and passing it off as its own proprietry software.
Other things mentioned within Naughtons article were that Google has apparently taken hundreds of files of the Linux code, which is available for free under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2) and declared that the code was no longer protected by the GPLv2 license so that developers won’t be affected by the copyleft criteria.
Why will all apps be free!?
Once this matter gets an official hearing and if Google is to be found guilty of the claims put forward against Android, then the Android marketplace and income stream could be severely affected. Worst hit by a decision in favour of the accuser will be app developers and device manufacturers who will be subsequently forced to offer their Android apps within the marketplace for completely free, as to work alongside of the GPLv2.
If this were to happen the overall Android eco system will be massively affected, and for many many developers a huge loss of income.
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Oh my god. That is absolutely mental!!!! Google has seriously screwed itself here.
I welcome our GNU Linux overlords!
Yes, don’t we all. Now bow down!
Bowing! lol
If Google were to offer all apps for free then developers would stop developing for it.
On the one hand, this would sound like a great thing for all of us Android users. On the other hand, if developers could only make money off their apps by including advertising, many would stop developing for Android. That would pretty much kill the platform. I hope Google was smarter than it sounds here. I really don’t want to be stuck with Apple as a main tablet choice.
That would pretty much kill the platform. I hope Google was smarter than it sounds here. I
This is going to be VERY interesting to watch unfold!