Alexander Maryanovsky, a software developer and the man behind the open source Jin Chess Client software, has filed a lawsuit in Tel Aviv District Court against Ichessu.com website owner.

According to Maryanovsky’s claims, the website owner continues to use his software while allegedly violating the terms of General Public License (GPL) under which Jin Client was distributed and failing to make the source code available after changing it.

GPL license permits changing and distributing the software (including for commercial use) while requiring the re-distributors to include full and compilable source code and the GPL license agreement along with the software.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Jonathan J. Klinger, stated to this blog that one of the reasons behind the lawsuit is to show that GPL license can and will be enforced vigorously. “Developers distributing their software under GPL license should not fear their work being copied without due credit and the courts will stand by them”, he said.

The plaintiff is seeking damages estimated app. $25,000 as well as a permanent injunction preventing distribution and use of the software.

To this blogger’s knowledge this is the first time the GPL license issues are presented to Israeli court system.