What happens to those who break open source license?

Asked 2010-06-30T12:47:06.780

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What happens if you break an open source license and include a code released under GPL in a closed source project?

Can you go to jail? Who will sue you? For what? "Not respecting the will" of those who created the free source code? Is there any support in the jurisdiction (of any state) that would put any punishment to those who do not respect software freedom?

Inspired by a question I have just seen on SO: Is it allowed to use ideas from open source in closed source, not being able to find any answer to this question.

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Presumably the copyright holders could sue to have the ~~non-compliant project's source code released to the public~~ licensed code removed from the project or to bring the project into compliance. This would be a civil action to enforce a ~~contract~~ copyright. I haven't read about any criminal implications to date.

answered 2010-06-30T12:52:31.417

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