Messages in this thread | | | From | "David Schwartz" <> | Subject | RE: Linksys WRT54G and the GPL | Date | Mon, 9 Jun 2003 09:53:37 -0700 |
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> On Sun, Jun 08, 2003 at 10:32:52PM -0700, David Schwartz wrote:
> > Including the source with the product would be insufficient to > > meet the GPL > > requirements. They would have to offer the source (or a written offer to > > obtain the source for no more than the cost of physically copying it) to > > everyone who downloaded their software from their web site. The > > GPL is quite > > clear that the source code offer must be made to anyone to whom > > the object > > code is distributed. (The program must be accompanied by the offer.)
> No, a source code *offer* must be made to anyone, period.
No.
> Section 3(b) of GPLv2 says "Accompany it with a written offer ... to give > any third party ... [the] source code".
"Accompany" means two things have to travel together. If I have to accompany a car with an instruction manual, it does not follow that I must give the instruction manual to anyone who requests it.
> If the source code is actually distributed with the object code, then > they need only make it available to those who obtain the object code. > Of course those folks are free to redistribute to anyone, if they want.
But the object code is available from their web site. I don't see how you can accompany a download with a written offer, so to comply with the GPL, they must "accompany" the object code with the source code.
DS
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