Re: [tlug] Re: Unlocked Android phone

["Kenneth Burling" <burlingk@example.com>]

On Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 9:26 AM, Shawn <javajunkie@example.com> wrote:
>
>> > If docomo were to come out with their android phone, I wonder if their
>> > input system would be available as open-source.
>>
>> You don't know much about Japanese companies in general and DoCoMo in
>> particular, do you? ;)
>> But DoCoMo? I very
>> seriously doubt they'd ever release anything even remotely smelling of
>> IP.
>
> It's the requirements of the GPL that I am less clear on.
>
> What I meant was along the lines of if say DoCoMo released the Android
> (which is rumored), if they would be under obligation to release the
> input system.
>
> I mean there is ATOK who obviously don't but if DoCoMo were to
> distribute it under one package, I'm not clear on what their obligations
> would be.
>
> Of course, even if they are obligated, I would expect them not to and
> perhaps Japanese courts to be silent on the matter.

Well, thing is that people treat these things like little computers.
When you flash them, it is basically a disk image that you are
flashing it with, like a CD but smaller, or larger depending on the
things capabilities.

If you look at it like that, then they can juse as easily create a
proprietary input system, or port an existing one.  If they did it
that way they would have no obligation to make it public.  It is just
another application running on their little computer system.