![]() Specifically, anyone who distributes derivative works of Stockfish’s code in binary form must make available the corresponding source code under GPL v3.īut while ChessBase has now made available source code for Fat Fritz 2 SE, there’s still debate around whether the product is fully compliant with GPL v3. As such, anyone is free to use Stockfish’s code, but there are requirements that come with distribution. Stockfish is distributed under GPL v3, which is a strong copyleft open source software license. Question 1: GPL and Neural Network Weights Your email address is added to our subscription list. ![]() In this blog, Heather addresses two specific questions that could surface during the proceedings. To help contextualize and analyze the lawsuit, we reached out to Heather Meeker, one of the world’s foremost legal experts on open source software licensing and compliance. Stockfish’s litigation, which will reportedly be heard in a German court, seeks to prevent ChessBase from distributing “Stockfish, modified or unmodified, as part of their products.” However, while ChessBase no longer sells Houdini 6, it has continued to sell a version of Fat Fritz 2. There’s consensus that Fat Fitz 2 and Houdini 6 are derivative works of Stockfish’s GPL 3-licensed code - but Stockfishes alleges ChessBase did not comply with the requirements that apply to derivative works.Īs a result of these alleged numerous license violations, Stockfish decided to terminate its license with ChessBase. The dispute stems from the way ChessBase used Stockfish’s GPL v3-licensed code in two products: Fat Fritz 2 and Houdini 6. ChessBase is a company that sells a variety of chess products, including software programs, databases, training, and a magazine. We congratulate both parties in this litigation for coming to an amicable agreement that makes a plan to put those rights of users first and foremost in an ongoing way.In a case that could be an interesting test of the GPL v3 license, open source chess engine Stockfish recently announced a lawsuit against ChessBase. Too often, those who enforce the GPL focus so much on the copyright infringement they have suffered and forget the policy goal of all copyleft licenses: to guarantee that users and consumers get the methods, means, and technical details on how to make real use of the software rights and freedoms that the licenses promise. We also appreciate the trust that the FOSS community places in SFC as arbiters on behalf of consumers and users, of what various copyleft licenses (such as the GPLv2 and GPLv3) require with regard to complete, corresponding source (CCS). As a litigant ourselves in unrelated copyleft enforcement litigation, we know well that ongoing compliance, and assuring that the rights of the community of users remains respected for the years after the litigation completes, is the most important work of software freedom. SFC is honored that the parties chose us to carry out this critical duty. Specifically, SFC has been named in the settlement agreement as the trusted third-party to analyze and approve any complete “Corresponding Source” releases by ChessBase in the future. ![]() Software Freedom Conservancy is excited to announce our role in this historic violation settlement. Stockfish, a Free and Open Source Software ( FOSS) chess engine, has announced the settlement of their lawsuit against ChessBase GmbH regarding violations of Stockfish's license, the General Public License, version 3 (GPLv3). ![]() Stockfish: Chess GPLv3 Violation Lawsuit Settles SFC Named as Trusted Party To Verify Future Corresponding Source ![]()
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