German court confirms ADSL router is a computer like any other

German maker of ADSL terminals wants rival to stop modifying its Linux

“Of course we will win”, says Stefan Pattberg, CEO of Cybits, a German software maker specialised in making Internet connections at home and at school safe for children. “This court, like the one we stood before in March last year, will allow us to change and improve a Linux-based product.”

Cybit was taken before a Berlin regional court yesterday by AVM, manufacturer of ADSL terminals such as the Fritz!Boxes used by many Europeans. Pattberg: “All we did is update AVM’s Linux kernel’s firewall software, iptables and netfilter, to make it more secure, and added some of our own software.”

An article for TechEye, published on 22 June 2011.