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The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been criticized for allegedly violating the terms of the MIT License in its smart contracts.
On Oct. 10, X user 0xCygaar, a purported AbstractChain contributor, <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://x.com/0xCygaar/status/1844188445691822136" rel="null" target="null" text="null" title="null">publicly</a> accused the agency of using OpenZeppelin’s libraries — an open-source code resource — without properly including the required license attribution.
If confirmed, this omission could constitute a breach of copyright law, as the MIT License explicitly mandates that any substantial use or modification of its code include the original license.
The X user <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://x.com/0xCygaar/status/1844201062234042877" rel="null" target="null" text="null" title="null">claimed</a> they had alerted the FBI to “take the necessary steps against the… FBI.”
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 <img alt="FBI accused of violating MIT License in smart contract code usage" src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-10/01927683-c2ef-7351-ba71-8ef600ffef52" title="">
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 Source: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://x.com/0xCygaar/status/1844188445691822136" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" text="null" title="https://x.com/0xCygaar/status/1844188445691822136">cygaar</a>
 </figcaption>
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<h2 id="allegations-of-license-breach">Allegations of license breach</h2>
The allegation centers on the FBI’s alleged failure to include the MIT License notice when utilizing OpenZeppelin libraries, which are widely used to create secure smart contracts. 
Related: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-market-makers-fraud-sec" rel="null" target="null" text="null" title="https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-market-makers-fraud-sec">SEC, FBI, DOJ coordinate takedown of fraudulent crypto firms</a>
The MIT License governs its use of blockchain technology, particularly within the Ethereum ecosystem. It allows for distribution, modification and free use, provided the original licensing terms are maintained.
A public examination of the FBI smart contract on Etherscan reveals that the code is labeled “Unlicensed,” sparking mixed community reactions.
<figure>
 <img alt="FBI accused of violating MIT License in smart contract code usage" src="https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2024-10/01927684-6378-7c05-9aae-b39c2a738995" title="">
 <figcaption style="text-align: center;">
 Etherscan data depicting the ‘Unlicensed’ smart contract code. Source: Etherscan
 </figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="legal-and-reputational-implications">Legal and reputational implications</h2>
The implications of the alleged violation could be significant because the MIT License, while generally considered developer-friendly, is legally binding, 
If OpenZeppelin chooses, it could pursue legal action by sending a cease-and-desist order, requiring the FBI to either correct the violation or discontinue its use of the code.
Related: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-gov-files-complaint-seize-assets-north-korean-hackers" rel="null" target="null" text="null" title="https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-gov-files-complaint-seize-assets-north-korean-hackers">US files complaints to seize assets from North Korean hackers</a>
However, any formal lawsuit against the FBI would face challenges due to sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that generally protects US federal agencies from being sued without their consent.
While a lawsuit is unlikely, public and governmental pressure could push the FBI to comply with open-source licensing requirements.
<h2 id="the-likely-resolution">The likely resolution</h2>
Given the circumstances and legal implications, the most likely resolution is for the FBI to amend the smart contract to include the required license notice.&nbsp;
This amendment would ensure compliance with the MIT License and likely diminish or prevent further legal or public relations complications.
It remains unclear whether the agency will make a public statement or quietly resolve the matter behind the scenes as speculations grow in the community.
Magazine: <a data-ct-non-breakable="null" href="https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/anti-aging-multi-millionaire-bryan-johnson-almost-devoted-life-crypto/" rel="null" target="null" text="null" title="null">Anti-aging tycoon Bryan Johnson almost devoted his life to crypto</a>

FBI accused of violating MIT License in smart contract code usage

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