[OpenBIOS] [PATCH] add copyright message to root node at startup

[Programmingkid]

On Feb 5, 2016, at 7:49 AM, BALATON Zoltan wrote:

> On Fri, 5 Feb 2016, Mark Cave-Ayland wrote:
>> If you look back at the archives, the concern is whether or not having
>> an Apple copyright string visible in the source and at runtime could
>> cause legal issues with OpenBIOS and ultimately QEMU.
>> 
>> Realistically I don't think Apple could care that much, but without
>> confirmation from Apple themselves (and the fact that this could also
>> affect QEMU) then I'd much rather take the safe option.
> 
> I have no idea about legal things either but if at the end the copyright string becomes visible in the device tree, however it's put there, does it change anything if it's plain text or obfuscated in the source?

I would say definite yes.

> It would still be there only obfuscated. Wouldn't adding a different string that's enough to make the OS happy but saying "not copyright Apple" that was also suggested be better to clearly show why it's there but avoid problems by having a false copyright notice?

That could cause problems. There might be versions of the Mac OS that depend on the whole copyright string being there.

> As legal things are, they could sew someone anyway just for trying to use MacOS on non-Apple hardware which is probably not allowed by its license so maybe the copyright message would not cause much more problems.

I don't know if they would ever sue someone for doing that. If they did it would be all the hackintosh websites that would go down first. I say we stay away from Apple's naughty list and error on the side of caution.