Trump's Social Media Site Quietly Admits It's Based On Mastodon (pcmag.com) 228
mrflash818 shares a report from PCMag: To avoid a lawsuit, Donald Trump's social media site is quietly acknowledging the computer code powering the platform comes from Mastodon. Trump's "Truth Social" site now features a dedicated section labeled "open source," which contains a Zip archive to Mastodon's source code. "Our goal is to support the open source community no matter what your political beliefs are. That's why the first place we go to find amazing software is the community and not 'Big Tech,'" the site adds. Truth Social created the section on Nov. 12, two weeks after social networking provider Mastodon threatened to sue Trump's platform for violating its open-source license.
Since Mastodon is an open-source software project, anyone can use it for free. But if you do, the software license demands the code and any ensuing modifications to your Mastodon-powered platform be made publicly available, allowing the entire Mastodon community to benefit. (This doesn't include publishing any user data or disclosing admin access, though.) [...] However, it appears the uploaded Zip archive is simply a barebones version of the existing Mastodon source code you can already find on GitHub. The archive itself is only a mere 30MB in size. Nevertheless, Rochko said the Zip archive might "become more interesting" once Truth Social finally launches.
Since Mastodon is an open-source software project, anyone can use it for free. But if you do, the software license demands the code and any ensuing modifications to your Mastodon-powered platform be made publicly available, allowing the entire Mastodon community to benefit. (This doesn't include publishing any user data or disclosing admin access, though.) [...] However, it appears the uploaded Zip archive is simply a barebones version of the existing Mastodon source code you can already find on GitHub. The archive itself is only a mere 30MB in size. Nevertheless, Rochko said the Zip archive might "become more interesting" once Truth Social finally launches.
Good job Trump (Score:3, Insightful)
His team did the right thing, and released their changes. I can support that. (Doesn't mean I'll vote for him).
Re:Good job Trump (Score:5, Informative)
His team did the right thing, and released their changes.
Uhhh, no they didn't.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
As far as we know, they literally used the basic mastodon for a private prototype that was accidentally opened to the public. The reason why all of those "hah, I pwned Drumpf, here are the screenshots" twitterati actually got in was specifically because it was pretty much a carbon copy of the thing. So if you knew your way around default install, you could get into that proof of concept site after they accidentally made it accessible publicly.
The only thing that apparently was added on top was some early prototype graphics, as the thing was clearly nothing more than simple proof of concept. Graphics aren't code. They don't need to release those. So they just toss out a zip of mastodon... and they're done complying with demands. For now.
It just tells you that it really was nothing more than proof of concept and they have a mountain of work ahead if they actually plan to build a functioning social network based on it. A big "if" mind you. Building an up to scale network isn't anything like taking a basic mastodon config and running it. This isn't something that you can do quickly either, because this is probably going to be the most attacked site on the planet for months after it actually goes public. They'll not just need to get it up to scale, with proper capacity and all, but they'll also need to test it to insane degree to keep it even marginally secure.
Especially considering that they're running what is essentially code made by their political enemies who have spent close to half a decade screaming bloody murder every day just because they woke up and he dared to still be in office that day? Can you imagine how many ways there are to subvert this kind of a network project with such access?
Frankly, while I understand that they're basically trying to hit the ground running with this network, since they're likely targeting going live in about two years time for political reasons, to operate they way they do... I've no idea how they hope to survive the onslaught of hacking of every possible kind that will come their way when they actually go live. Unless they lock it down tight and only allow a handful of pre-selected people to post. Which would likely defeat the purpose.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
Right wing sites seem to have consistent problems with security for some reason. It's as if they just can't get good people to build platforms for them.
Or as if they have an army of attackers battering the doors, windows, and cracks the moment they show up.
Security is a red queen's race, and in races between weapons and armor, weapons eventually win. Armor has to work all the time, while weapons only have to work once.
Further, when a new team is just starting to build a new fort, and construction has just begun, even if the team top notch there will be a lot of parts under construction where the armor isn't yet applied. If the enemy attacks then there will be breakage.
Re: (Score:3)
Right wing sites seem to have consistent problems with security for some reason. It's as if they just can't get good people to build platforms for them.
Or as if they have an army of attackers battering the doors, windows, and cracks the moment they show up.
That happens to literally everyone, in case you haven't looked at your firewall logs lately. No doubt it happens more to high profile sites, but we're all being continually attacked these days.
Re: (Score:3)
Leftists tend not to bother because they can use someone else's platform and tend not to get banned so much
Do you have any proof that the right is actually banned more than the left or are you just relying on anecdotal evidence and the complaints of right wing media?
I have no proof one way or the other but wouldn't be at all surprised to find that both sides are banned equally and it is just that when people on the right are banned you hear more about it (i.e. the right makes a bigger stink of bans than the left does).
Re: (Score:2)
What?
How do you know?
How do you know they even changed anything?
If all that was modified was the static variables defining the name of the site, perhaps a color or two, etc. then I hardly think those qualify as "changes".
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Looks like they're using Highwinds Network, a rather large hosting service based in Kansas.
Re: (Score:2)
So far as I know, Highwinds has no NOCs nor (perhaps?) offices in Kansas. The company certainly isn't based there.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, I messed up.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:5, Funny)
W...what? You can't say that! This is a political posting on /., you can't just say "yeah, I made a mistake", you have to double down and go to ridiculous lengths to defend how right you are, despite and especially if it becomes obvious you are not! And where is the ad-hominem?
Dude, learn to play by the rules here! You can't just say "sorry, my bad" and move on, that's so ... sensible.
We don't like that here!
Re: (Score:2)
Well I was right about Highwinds ;)
Re: (Score:2)
But where is the ad-hominem? I came here for my ad-hominem and I'm not leaving without!
Re: (Score:3)
Dang, I suck like a donkey. What can I say? I can't believe I made a mistake.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:5, Funny)
*sigh* You're supposed to tell me I'm a dork, not yourself....
Jeesh, you suck at trolling, you know that? Promise me you never go on Twitter or Reddit, you're the last decent person on the planet, and I wouldn't want to see that go to waste.
Re: (Score:2)
Dang, I suck like a donkey.
Are donkeys well known for sucking?
Re: (Score:3)
The worst part is I even failed at ad-hominem. That wasn't ad-hominem, it was abuse. I should stay off the internet altogether.
Re: (Score:3)
Ah yes, you want room 12A, Just along the corridor.
Re: (Score:2)
Dang, I suck like a donkey.
Are donkeys well known for sucking?
Well, baby donkeys are, being mammals and all that, but I suppose that's not the point. :)
--
.nosig
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Certainly not a coincidence, it's very obvious to anyone who can think clearly that they draw their nomenclature from the same Greek alphabet as the WHO.
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, but now we ask to ask if the site is being hosted in someone living room, connected by sneaker net. They say they use OSS because they donâ(TM)t believe in big tech. So who is running tier servers, proving connectivity?
Kind of a chicken/egg problem, isn't it?
Nice trick, get all of big tech into a leftist cabal, and then if anybody points it out, they are a hypocrite for needing to use any tech infrastructure?
"He denounces our owning all the sidewalks, and then dares to take a walk?"
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Are those the two choices - AWS or an email server in your bathroom [theweek.com]?
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
If Trump used the open Source software *without* modification, is there still an obligation to make the *unmodified* code available?
I'm talking about the mastodon *code*, since in my example they didn't modify the mastodon code itself.
I have no idea if Team Trump modified the source code or not, but I've been under the impression that *using* open source software doesn't require sharing the original source code. (For example, a Linux Distro could include an open-source office productivity suite without havi
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
If Trump personally copied and used Mastodon then he has no obligation to do anything.
If Trump personally copied, modified and used Mastodon then he has no obligation to do anything.
However, if Trump, or any other person, provided a copy of Mastodon to others or provided a service based on Mastodon to others then there's an obligation to provide source code. This is what makes the AGPLv3 unique compared to most, possibly all other OSS licenses. Most OSS licenses such as GPLv2 or GPLv3 do not require someone
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
It's my understanding that if you distribute an unmodified GPL'd program, you have to supply appropriate readme files and copyright info, but aren't under any obligation to provide source, as the person you distributed to can obtain it for themselves from the same repository that you did.
Trump (Score:2, Informative)
CNBC "President Joe Biden orders a halt on building the U.S.-Mexico border wall"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Kamala Harris "DO NOT COME."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
"Democrats were for new border barriers before they were against it" --- If you only watch 1 video this year, make it this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
* Donald J. Trump Pays Court-Ordered $2 Million For Illegally Using Trump Foundation Funds
* Secret Service has paid rates as high as $650 a night for rooms at Trump’s properties
* The Saudi royal family showered Donald J. Trump and his entourage on his first trip abroad as president with dozens of presents, including three robes made with white tiger and cheetah fur, and a dagger with a handle that appeared to be ivory. A White House lawyer determined that possession of the furs and dagger most likely violated the Endangered Species Act, but the Trump administration held onto them and failed to disclose them as gifts received from a foreign government.
* “I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul,” Trump said on Breitbart News Daily. “It’s a tremendously successful job. It’s called Trump Towers—two towers, instead of one, not the usual one, it’s two.” "
* An alleged “bribery for pardon” scheme at the White House is under investigation by the justice department, according to a court filing unsealed on Tuesday.
* Online donors were guided into weekly recurring contributions. Demands for refunds spiked. Complaints to banks and credit card companies soared. But the money helped keep Donald Trump’s struggling campaign afloat.
By all means, investigate the Clintons, but if you feel there's enough to lock them both up, Trump is getting several life sentences.
Re: (Score:2)
https://www.npr.org/2016/06/12... [npr.org]
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
Good reading, but that list doesn't really compare:
Whitewater, 1992 : This one seems one of the dodgier ones, especially given the pardon.
Travelgate, 1993 : "Independent Counsel Ken Starr found no blame rested with Bill Clinton." (If Ken Starr found that Clinton didn't do anything, you can be pretty sure that's true).
Vince Foster Death, 1993 : "Multiple investigations by the FBI, the Justice Department and special prosecutors concluded that Foster died at his own hand."
Paula Jones/Monica Lewinsky, 1994 : Dodgy as hell, but not as illegal as using campaign funds to bribe a porn star to keep quiet about an affair.
Filegate, 1996 : "Two staff members who obtained the files quit their jobs. An independent counsel uncovered no wrongdoing by the Clintons themselves."
Benghazi, 2012 : Republicans reduced funding for security prior, this was a hatchet job from day one - but has become catchy anti-Hillary slogan.
Clinton Foundation, 2015 : This should indeed be investigated very closely.
Private Email Server, 2015 : The email server was a continuation of what was done under the Bush administration, and the Trumps used possibly even more private correspondence for what should have been done using official email servers.
Again, if you want the Clintons locked up over this, Trump should be out of prison around the year 3,000.
Re: (Score:3)
I agree with your list in general except for:
Private Email Server, 2015 : The email server was a continuation of what was done under the Bush administration
That is NEVER AN EXCUSE, unless an administration is somehow bound by laws passed requiring some ill. But that wasn't what happened. Let me open with the disclaimer that I still would have preferred Clinton to Trump, as Trump was even worse than the status quo, and that the private email server is probably the least damning item on the list anyway. But what actually happened was that Colin Powell suggested that Hillary Clinton use a private email server specifica
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
The rules for private email servers did not exist during the Bush administration. That's a false equivalence.
The FBI made it clear that Clinton "probably" broke the law, but that it didn't rise to the severity where the DOJ would typically charge a former senator or presidential candidate.
All Clinton had to do was admit she broke the law and apologize and the whole thing would have been a single media cycle. Clinton would have made a better president than Trump, but somehow - after decades in political circ
Re: (Score:3)
I love that if you are popular or rich enough, the FBI will just decide it was illegal but you are too important to be charged.
If a law can not be applied to the president, why can it be applied to me?
Re: (Score:2)
It really takes a lot of effort to make Nixon look like a saint, but some like to go the extra mile.
Re: (Score:2)
Shitting all over the EPA that Nixon helped to create was all it took, really. Still didn't actually make Nixon look like a saint, but proved that Trump was worse for America than he was.
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Biden was mostly elected for the same reason Trump was elected: So that other one doesn't win.
You think we might eventually get a candidate again that we actually want to have as president instead of just one that gets it because the alternative is even worse?
Re: (Score:2)
Probably not at least for the next round or two, as no-one like that seems to be even on the radar for either main party.
Re: (Score:2)
So Biden was the best of the worst?
How political leaders have fallen in esteem...
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know exactly what happened, but I dare say that used car salesmen are held in roughly the same esteem and have the same credibility in the eyes of the average person as politicians.
But then again, as George Carlin put it, "If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders".
Garbage in, garbage out.
Re: (Score:2)
as George Carlin put it, "If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders".
And if you have selfish, ignorant leaders, they're going to attack education in order to produce more selfish, ignorant citizens who can more easily be fleeced. Hooray for vicious circles.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Biden was mostly elected for the same reason Trump was elected: So that other one doesn't win.
You think we might eventually get a candidate again that we actually want to have as president instead of just one that gets it because the alternative is even worse?
This. Please mod parent up.
Re:Good job Trump (Score:5, Insightful)
Sorry, this here is reality, conspiracy lalaland is down the corridor to the right.
Re: Good job Trump (Score:3)
Because he opened his mouth.
If Trump had sat quietly in the Oval signing executive orders and signing/vetoing legislation, his presidency wouldn't be marred by his own failures as a human being.
Re: (Score:3)
"Can you please share why you think he sucked as president?'
I would say, his biggest failings were his constant need to be in the spotlight, inability to filter his thoughts, and desire to have more power than (autocratic tendencies) the office of president should. He wanted to always have the last word, and lacked the self-confidence to let any kind of insult go. He acts like a child. What mature adult seeks out each and every Republican that "betrayed" him and finds a "loyal" replacement in the next prima
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
Luckily we have enough of a justice system where you can't just lock up people that you don't agree with based on lies and innuendo. Be grateful: at the very least, wealthy, popular people still can't be thrown in jail without actual evidence of criminal behavior, and due process. The whole Clinton is a criminal thing should be proof that there was nothing there.
Remember Trump directed the DoJ to reopen the investigation (because there's nothing corrupt about that lol) and the same DoJ that acted like his private law firm still concluded she did nothing indictable. Rejoice, justice was served.
Re: (Score:2)
Yes if there was more to it, there would be more to it.
Why wasn't she even charged with anything after all that?
Re: (Score:2)
Because no leader wants to set policies which can affect them after they are gone. For example, every president since Carter should have gone to the Hague for war crimes. None of them have. That's because all of them are in on the same game. Do whatever you want, don't punish the last guy for doing whatever he wants, you don't get punished for it yourself.
We know of [some of] Obama's war crimes because he himself set rules requiring transparency on drone strike operations. Trump rescinded this rule. Has Bid
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Re:Good job Trump (Score:4, Insightful)
more people have died of Covid in 2021 than in 2020. I guess that's Trumps fault too.
Yes, it most certainly is. Every death after the first 1000 or so can be attributed to him and his bungling 'response' to the pandemic.
Now go drink your Ivermectin and snort some hydroxychloroquine.
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
Re: Good job Trump (Score:3)
It was a nice change from inventing three Covid-19 vaccines by himself then single-handedly ramping up distribution to have 1 million vaccine jabs on the same day as Biden's first day in office.
Re: Good job Trump (Score:2)
umm so what? (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't get it. So what if they are using mastadon?
Why is this article sensationalizing that?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Because Orange Man Bad. Did you spend the last half a decade under a rock?
Re:umm so what? (Score:4, Insightful)
Really? The last time I checked, Trump didn't want to invade most of Europe or burn any Jews. Also I suppose you actually believe Biden is doing a great job.
Re: (Score:2)
The last time I checked, Trump didn't want to invade most of Europe or burn any Jews.
You checked? So you have evidence he didn't want to do those things? Citations needed ... :-)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
He did try to buy Greenland. Turned out it wasn't for sale. Who knew?
The U.S. has considered buying Greenland a few times [wikipedia.org] before ...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
People aren’t even hiding it anymore https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/10... [cnn.com]
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Dear Leader helped make the U.S. safe for white supremacists and the anti-Jew crowd running around with their Confederate war flags and posing with their guns like they had balls. If they had any balls, they'd walk around without their guns, dropping the faux military clothes might help bring them back into polite society.
And bringing up Biden is along the lines of: I know Dear Leader is a jerk, but that Biden guy is worse.
Re: (Score:3)
I don't live in the south, but I don't even see Confederate flags anymore, only Trump flags. In many ways that's worse. At least the Confederate government was still a democracy, and fairly elected its President.
Re: (Score:2)
At least the Confederate government was still a democracy, and fairly elected its President.
If by "fair" you mean ruling a large number of people as "not people" so they don't need to be afforded rights such as voting.
Re: (Score:2)
Aside from that. It's argue that the previous administration considers an even larger number of people as not people.
Re: umm so what? (Score:3)
He's not, but he probably can be for the right price!
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
The Neo type. The ones that swallowed a red pill.
Re: umm so what? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
At least one https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/10... [cnn.com]
Re: umm so what? (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: umm so what? (Score:2)
It requires the source code AND modifications be posted. They were not in compliance with the former before making the code available.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, the very least the license demands is that you state that you use their code. If it's unchanged, whether you have to host it or not is something I don't want to decide.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:umm so what? (Score:5, Informative)
I don't get it. So what if they are using mastadon? Why is this article sensationalizing that?
Because initially the site didn't acknowledge the use of Mastodon or release the (modified) source code it used, in violation of the GPL. They were threatened with a lawsuit and subsequently complied. Why they didn't simply do this in the first place is unclear.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
The reason they didn't release their changes as they were required to is pretty clear - they didn't want to admit to using commie open source code to build their site, or that Trump's premier new platform that was about to destroy Twitter was just a very slightly modified version of someone else's work that anyone could install with a few clicks.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't get it. So what if they are using mastadon? Why is this article sensationalizing that?
Because initially the site didn't acknowledge the use of Mastodon or release the (modified) source code it used, in violation of the GPL. They were threatened with a lawsuit and subsequently complied. Why they didn't simply do this in the first place is unclear.
No, not in violation of the GPL, but of a different license - AGPLv3 .
The GPL doesn't compel you to release source if you are just using software, only if you redistribute software.
Is Trump's site even active? Was code modified? (Score:2)
If not, how could Trump have broken any laws?
Also, did Trump's team alter the source code? I don't think configuring the software to your liking is changing the source code.
If I put up a Wordpress site, am I personally required to make the source code active?
Re:Is Trump's site even active? Was code modified? (Score:5, Interesting)
You are only required to make the source code available to those for whom you make the running application available.
The site is currently only intended to be available to a small group of beta testers, therefore only those authorised beta testers have a right to receive the code.
If anyone outside of the authorised beta program gained access to the site, then this would constitute unauthorised access. So in such instances, those users have themselves committed a crime and also have no right to the code.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't think that's right. The GPL FAQ isn't entirely clear, but it sounds like people who receive screenshots of the site are also entitled to a copy of the code: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/g... [gnu.org]
In any case, they were not giving the code to anyone, and removed any reference to Mastodon in an attempt to obfuscate their way out of complying with the licence.
Re: (Score:3)
I don't think that's right. The GPL FAQ isn't entirely clear, but it sounds like people who receive screenshots of the site are also entitled to a copy of the code: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/g... [gnu.org]
Are you saying that a screenshot of the site is a binary in the context of GPL?
I don't think that the output from a piece of software is subject to the same restrictions as the piece of software. So I can use a proprietary and licenced compiler, and distribute the binaries generated from it willy-nilly (if I want to). Similarly just because the copy function is GPL does not mean that its outputs are GPL. Covered here: GPL - Require Citation [gnu.org]
(Apologies if I have misinterpreted what you meant).
In any case, they were not giving the code to anyone, and removed any reference to Mastodon in an attempt to obfuscate their way out of complying with the licence.
Agree wi
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure TBH, it's a bit of a grey area. On the one hand you can't apply GPL to output, but on the other hand many websites end up including significant amounts of the GPL code in the HTML they generate.
A screenshot may not be enough, I suppose it depends how much of what is displayed is part of the GPL code. Things like icons and text would count, but obviously not Trump specific branding and not the composition.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure TBH, it's a bit of a grey area. On the one hand you can't apply GPL to output, but on the other hand many websites end up including significant amounts of the GPL code in the HTML they generate.
A screenshot may not be enough, I suppose it depends how much of what is displayed is part of the GPL code. Things like icons and text would count, but obviously not Trump specific branding and not the composition.
I guess it depends on what a screenshot is.
If its a png picture of a screen - then I think GPL is not violated
If its the content to be rendered by the browser, then it might be a bit grey. But you could argue that the source code has been delivered for that particular rendering (e.g. all the javascript that you ran to see that page is there). if the javascript has been obfuscated, then maybe its different?
Um (Score:2)
First, are we sure it wasn't an honest mistake?
I'm a reasonably techie sort, and my first thought was "they aren't distributing it, are they? Why would they need to make source available?"
But apparently this license [wikipedia.org] gets around that ... okay then. Did they know that? When?
Really interesting discussion on the license here [twitter.com]. (Yes, solution: don't use software that uses it. But I have to agree that this license violates the spirit of free software, and there's nothing wrong with saying so.)
Re: (Score:3)
If it was a honest mistake, they are using technology without understanding the legal or technical implications of it, which is IMO an even bigger can of worms.
The reason for the hubub was that the license behind the software used requires that you state you're using that software and that you make the source of the code (along with any modifications you made) available. Because the license says so. You use it, you do it, you don't like it, you don't use it.
Now, I'd say no later than when this made the head
Re: Um (Score:2)
Re: does anyone (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The irony is that both of you are half-right.
The sad reality is that this is the best it's going to be unless We The People get up and actually kick out BOTH SIDES.
Unfortunately, that is highly unlikely to happen.
Re: (Score:2)
The acid test is: would you trust Dear Leader with your money?
Re: Truth (Score:2)
Literally the only thing I knew about Trumps crap was that it used Mastadon so not so much of a secret It uses a modified version of Mastodon. They are obliged by the licensing to share any modifications to the code base. It will never get out of beta. The whole thing is a diversion. Trump will eventually launch a socmed platform based around golf and a cryptocurrency based on casino chips. After all the litigation is finished, he'll descend into obscurity and wind up broke and on a government pension in
Re: (Score:2)
I was going to say something similar. Considering that website's purpose has nothing to do with technology whatsoever, this is the same way any other non-tech related website would handle the issue. Let's say the website was for cooking recipes, and at some point they add a statement and link for complying with OSS related to their back-end. What are they supposed to do? Announce this with great fanfare to all their users? Force a click-through message all users have to read before continuing on to the site
Re: (Score:2)
The "Quietly Admits" isn't reality here, its ridiculous characterization that would be made ONLY to imply something nefarious is going on without having to come out and say so; because of course there isn't and it would be libel.
What on earth are you on about? It was widely speculated to be the case and now it's been confirmed. And that is a wildly obvious violation of the GPL. Something nefarious was going on.