There has been criticism of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for purportedly violating the terms of the MIT License in its smart contracts.
X user 0xCygaar, a putative AbstractChain contributor, publicly accused the agency of utilizing OpenZeppelin’s libraries, an open-source code resource, without properly including the required license attribution on Oct. 10.
The MIT License explicitly requires that the original license be included in any substantial use or modification of its code. If this omission is confirmed, it could comprise a breach of copyright law.
The X user asserted that they had informed the FBI to “take the necessary steps against the… FBI.”
Complaints regarding license violations
The allegation concerns the FBI’s purported failure to incorporate the MIT License notice when employing the OpenZeppelin libraries, frequently used to generate secure smart contracts.
It uses blockchain technology under the MIT License, particularly within the Ethereum ecosystem. It permits distribution, modification, and unrestricted use under the preservation of the original licensing terms.
A public examination of the FBI smart contract on Etherscan reveals that the code is designated “Unlicensed,” which has elicited various community reactions.
Implications for legal and reputational matters
The potential consequences of the purported violation are substantial, as the MIT License, despite its reputation as developer-friendly, is legally binding.
OpenZeppelin can take legal action by issuing a cease-and-desist order, which would mandate that the FBI either rectify the violation or cease using the code.
Nevertheless, the FBI would be subject to legal challenges in any formal lawsuit, as sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that generally safeguards US federal agencies from being sued without their assent, would be in effect.
Public and governmental pressure could motivate the FBI to adhere to open-source licensing requirements despite the likelihood of a lawsuit.
The probable outcome
Given the circumstances and legal implications, The FBI will most likely amend the smart contract to include the requisite license notice.
This amendment would guarantee adherence to the MIT License and likely mitigate or prevent additional legal or public relations complications.
It is still uncertain whether the agency will issue a public statement or discreetly resolve the issue behind the scenes as rumors continue circulating within the community.
