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Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

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Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#41
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm born here and lived here all my life and this has never happened to me.

That's not too surprising IMHO, I would expect this to be more visible to foreigners. I myself have never seen any type of low-level corruption in my home country but I learnt that also happens quite often, it's just not too visible if you don't know where to look at. I'm not from Germany, and do have a foreign name, I guess that may play a role.

> I would expect this to be more visible to foreigners.

That's a good point I hadn't considered.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it's only "copyright infringement" if you don't have enough money for lawyers "If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower class."

Not of the fine is set to be a ratio or proportion of your wealth or income.

You might be getting closer but someone who is just barely making ends meet could be ruined by that, where someone with obscene wealth can lose even 10% and still buy a yacht minutes later.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#43
post #20
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (you will never see a bribe in everyday life) That's not true, you can see lot of small bribes in normal day-to-day transactions. Almost every single technician I met (for internet installation, electricity, washing machine installation, etc. Even insurance brokers) offered me to pay them cash directly to get some benefits or falsify some recorded data.

You run in strange circles. I have never ever experienced such a thing. What benefits do they offer? A faster appointment? Cash in order to avoid taxes, sure, that happens, but again: it's not common. Almost always I simply get a paper bill, without any attempt to skirt that.

> You run in strange circles.

It's not about me, I live a perfectly normal, boring life. I'm not the one asking for bribes, and I always rejected them (I'm way too paranoid regarding regulations to accept that kind of stuff).

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#44
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend all the downvoters to look up "/s".

Maybe it's the sarcastic inverted interpretation that is being downvoted?

Or perhaps that the comment adds nothing to the conversation?

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#45

Oh the irony. The LUCA app has been co-initiated and financed by Smudo [0], a famous German rapper. He was a supporter of Metallica suing Napster back in 2000 for copyright violation [1]. [0] https://www.chip.de/news/Kontaktverfolgung-mit-Luca-App-von-... [1] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Smudo-vs-Napster-Da-...

It has been 21 years . Can we let the past go?

No, why should we? US Troops still sit in Afghanistan and Iraq, that's also ~21y.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#46
Here's a quick way to sweep this story under the rug:

Both CEOs of the company "Culture4Life GmbH" are politically well connected in Berlin. One is a clubowner, frequently in talks with government for tax-exemptions (eg. you pay less tax if you've employ a DJ...). The other one is a member of the Green party.

And we all know: Anyone who critcizes the left-wing sphere of Berlin is nothing but a racist. So there comes the rug.

EDIT: Also, the former CEO of said company is a lawyer with a reputation [1] whose main business partner is the ex-ceo of "Service und Dienstleistungen der ver.di GmbH", a temp-staffing agency run by Germany's biggest Union. Man... nothing to see here!

[1] https://www.agrarzeitung.de/nachrichten/agrarspitzen/Maerche...

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#47

Expect to hear nothing from the usual copyright big players Infringement is only frowned upon when it's your independent musician playing Bach on a YT video and of course he's "stealing" from the big players.

Exactly right. The copyright, as it exists today, is a tool to protect money-making schemes (industry vs. "customers"). It once was meant as a tool to protect market access (industry vs. industry). If we can reform it back to that origin, I'd think we'd be in a much better place.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#48
Maybe I don't know the full story, but from reading this post and the comments it's a shame how peoples attitudes are towards this.

When people violate the GPL, it's most likely due to ignorance.

I really think we should encourage and act positively when commercial/corporate/enterprise crap opens up their source code.

When we find a GPL (or any license violation), why can't we approach it politely (in the first case), educate on the license terms and ask them to comply.

In this case, it's seems that's what happened. We notified, educated and they complied. Shouldn't this be rewarded and hailed as a success?

But now my worry is, with the amount of hate these guys received, other companies that are already worried about opening up their codebase and contributing back to OSS, have had their fears confirmed.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#49

Oh the irony. The LUCA app has been co-initiated and financed by Smudo [0], a famous German rapper. He was a supporter of Metallica suing Napster back in 2000 for copyright violation [1]. [0] https://www.chip.de/news/Kontaktverfolgung-mit-Luca-App-von-... [1] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Smudo-vs-Napster-Da-...

I haven't heard that name in quite some time! I remember receiving a relatively pissed off email from him in response to an interview request quite a few years ago. I guess the lasting negative impression I got of him from that exchange is not totally unfounded.

Re: Copyright infringement by German contact tracing app

#50
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has been 21 years . Can we let the past go?

No, why should we? US Troops still sit in Afghanistan and Iraq, that's also ~21y.

I would suppose that more appropriate examples abound. Remaining in those countries today indicates that the action is not just in the past.
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