While I was in Tokyo last weekend, I read an article published in the International Herald Tribune newspaper titled, "Plagiarism hits open-source world". The article talks about software companies that are using open source software but are failing to honor the licenses. The article goes on to mention how the "plagiarism" can affect acquisitions of companies. Linksys and Cisco are mentioned in the article because of Linksys’ use of GPL software without honoring the license.
The article says, "The GPL’s main requirement is that developers who incorporate open-source software into new products agree to publish the revised source code in its entirety. This is intended to guarantee that open-source software and the innovations it inspires remain open." Miller Insurance Services Limited, a Lloyds of London insurance broker, now offers "open source compliance representation and warranty insurance".
You can read the International Herald Tribune article online at
http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/12/09/business/open.php
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