My colleague Chris wrote a post about the popular video playback client VLC being pulled from the App Store following objections from a developer who worked on the project that it was in breach of the GNU Public License. [The app has now been released on Cydia for jailbroken devices.]
This unpopular move had provoked strong reactions throughout the Mac blogging world, and Chris made a strong case for the prosecution in his post. However, every story always has two sides (and somewhere between them lies the truth). I'm here today to present the case for the defense: why Rémi Denis-Courmont was absolutely in the right to do what he did.
However, to do so, I'm going to have to lay out some open source history to give structure to my arguments. Please follow me on.
This article is over 10 years old but it is the best explication I’ve scene
When did what happen? The Apple App store as always been like this as far as I understand.
When was VLC removed? Pretty sure I have it on allmy devices…
12 years give or take
Back in the day. Like *over a decade ago I believe.
12 years ago to be more accurate
And so how is it available in the App Store today? I feel like I’m missing something.