GPL Violation by 2X Software Ltd

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For Immediate Release

2006-Jan-30

Link=F6ping, Sweden - Jan 30. 2006 -- Cendio AB has uncovered a GPL
violation by 2X Software Ltd, a UK based company selling thin-client
products.  2X violates the GPL by not providing source code to two of
its products LinRDP and DOSRDP.

These former products were acquired into 2X Software Ltd when it
merged with Terminal-Services.net, and although they are not
advertised on 2X' web site, the GPL demands that the source code is
made available up to 3 years after they are released (GPL, paragraph
3b).

LinRDP and DOSRDP are derived from rdesktop, an application that
allows users on Linux and UNIX to connect to Windows using the RDP
protocol.  rdesktop is covered by the GPL license, which allows
vendors to extend and market applications that are covered by it.
However it also requires the vendor to provide the full corresponding
source code and a copy of the full license text.

The rdesktop team discovered the GPL violation more than 2 years ago.
Cendio AB, the vendor of the thin client product ThinLinc, has been in
constant communication with 2X Software Ltd during the last 3 months
without being able to come to a fruitful resolution.  Instead,
Terminal-Services.net and then later 2X Software Ltd has refused to
provide the source code to LinRDP and DOSRDP although they build upon
rdesktop (see http://www.cendio.com/linrdp-dosrdp/ for proof).

Peo Moosberg, the CEO of Cendio AB says: "Despite being in contact
with 2X Software Ltd for a long time, we have not been able to resolve
this issue.  It's sad to see that players like 2X Software Ltd don't
play by the rules.  This will undermine the community and make it
harder for the honest companies to continue to deliver their products
and services."

Cendio AB has contributed a number of features and extensions to
rdesktop, among them improved support for national keyboards, support
for sound and support for cut & paste.  Two of the developers at
Cendio AB are part of the rdesktop core team.


About Cendio AB
---------------

Cendio AB, a Swedish privately owned company, is a leading vendor for
thin-client solutions based on Linux and Open Source.  Cendio AB
develops and markets ThinLinc and has contributed code to a number of
open source projects, among them rdesktop, TightVNC, hiveconf, Esound,
Wine, Python and UNFS3.


About 2X Software Ltd
---------------------

2X Software Ltd is a UK based, privately owned company developing
software for the server-based computing market.  2X develops and
markets 2X ThinClientServer for Windows and Linux.


Contact
-------
For more information, please contact our Chief Developer:

Peter =C5strand
Telephone: +46 (0)13 - 21 46 00
E-mail: [email protected]


References
----------

2X Software Ltd: http://www.2x.com/
rdesktop: http://www.rdesktop.org/
ThinLinc: http://www.cendio.com/products/thinlinc


--=20
Peter =C5strand		ThinLinc Chief Developer
Cendio			www.cendio.se
Teknikringen 3
583 30 Link=F6ping        Phone: +46-13-21 46 00
--789237761-788046617-1138709764=:9163--


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