FBI accused of violating MIT license when using smart contract code

On October 10, Cointelegraph reported that the FBI has been criticized for allegedly violating the terms of the MIT license in its smart contracts.X user 0xCygaar (a self-proclaimed AbstractChain contributor) has publicly accused the agency of using OpenZeppelin's libraries, a type of open-source resource, without correctly include the required license attribution. If proven, such an omission could constitute a violation of copyright law, as the MIT license explicitly requires that any substantial use or modification of its code include the original license. x Users claim they have warned the FBI to “take the necessary steps against the FBI.”

The MIT license governs the use of blockchain technology, particularly in the ethereum ecosystem. It can be distributed, modified, and used free of charge as long as the terms of the original license are adhered to. A public inspection of the FBI's smart contract on Etherscan revealed that the code was flagged as “unlicensed,” prompting mixed reactions from the community. The implications of the alleged violation could be serious, as the MIT license, while generally considered developer-friendly, is legally binding, and if OpenZeppelin chooses to do so, it could take legal action by sending a cease-and-desist order requiring the FBI to rectify the violation or stop using the code. However, any formal action against the FBI would be challenged on the basis of sovereign immunity.