[outleradam]

I'm writing a program which I intend to turn into a linux distribution, quite like XBMC. It is still in the early phases, I only have about 2000 lines written and there is no GUI yet. I would like to know if XBMC can be included in my distribution.

When the project is complete it will allow you to boot your computer from a flash drive and connect via bluetooth to your car. This will allow car enthusiasts like myself to diagnose, analyze and display gauges, car performance information, status notifications and possibly even social networking capabilities. Of course it would not be a good distribution to use in a car without some sort of audio/video features.

What are the legal ramifications of distributing XBMC on Ubuntu as an option on a custom main menu? Is there still "Dirty Code"? Would any of the developers have a problem with it?

[saratoga]

XBMC is GPL, so you just have to obey the GPL:

3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:

a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)

So basically you can distribute it, but you either have to provide the source code with the binary, or an offer to provide the software to anyone who wants it.

[outleradam]

I understand the license. I'm asking about the dirty code and the developers. The xbmc project is very large and I have heard that there is code in it which does not fall under proper licensing for redistribution. This is why it is not officially supported by Ubuntu.

What sort of legal ramifications would there be with including XBMC in it's entirety as part of a distro? I mean, otherwise it would be in the get free software store under the repositories right?

[davilla]

All offending code has been removed, search trac, there was a ticket for it. Your choice is GPLv2+ vs GPLv3, there's a lib or so that is GPLv3 so including it would make XBMC GPLv3.

If you make a disto that includes XBMC, then just mind the GPL license and it's requirements and you should be fine. Of course, I'm not a lawyer, nor do I ever want to be one.

[topfs2]

Many distro's have included it, fedora and arch from the top of my head

[outleradam]

Sweet! XBMC is fully GPL now! Thank you very much!

I would like all the developers to know that I and my family enjoy the XBMC pre-compiled repositories daily, from live Discovery channel via HDHomeRun to Recorded episodes of Dora The Explorer via MythTV through mythicalLibrarian, it's an awesome platform as an entertainment center, and I hope to bring it to the automotive enthusiast spectrum.