Martin Schulze <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Distributing GPL'ed software in object code or executable form, either > as CD image through the Internet or as pressed or burned CD, requires > the distributor (commercial or non-commercial doesn't seem to matter) > to advise the person, who receives the binary form, how to obtain the > source code of the software. Pointing them only to an FTP server from > a third party is not sufficient.
As the GPL says: (1) You can give them a copy of the source yourself. (If they are downloading the binary from some archive, then putting the source on the same archive is good enough; you don't have to force them to download it.) OR (2) You can give them an offer to provide the source to anyone (not merely your own customers) at a later date--that's you, yourself, not some other third party--at cost alone. OR (3) IF you are a non-profit, and IF you received the binaries with an offer like in number (2) above, then you can merely pass on that offer. > When such a CD (or image) is distributed the distributor is required > to inform the user how to obtain the source code and is advised to > distribute a source CD (containing the exact source to all packages on > the binary CD) through the same channels or burn a CD and store it in > a shelf, so a user request for source code can be fulfilled with a > manually burned copy. No, the distributor is *required* to either provide the source at no additional charge, OR give an offer like number (2). Merely informing "how to obtain the source code" is not necessarily sufficient. > If such a CD is distributed through mail order on a physical medium, > the source code has to be made available through mail order on a > physical medium as well, since the distributor must not assume the > user has sufficient bandwidth/internet access to download a large > amount of data. Not merely "made available". Either it comes *with* the binaries at no additional cost, or it must come with an offer to provide the source at cost of distribution alone. Thomas -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
