----- Original Message ---- > From: Simos Xenitellis <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thu, June 16, 2011 6:31:25 PM > Subject: OFF TOPIC about GPL enforcement (Was: Re: [tdf-discuss] Re: >[Libreoffice] Proposal to join Apache OpenOffice) > > On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 1:03 AM, Greg Stein <[email protected]> wrote: > > On Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 17:54, Simos Xenitellis > > <[email protected]> wrote: > >>... > >>> The key thing being "that person". That person is most likely not You, > >>> the developer who is contributing to the software. Thus, You won't get > >>> those changes unless "that person" decides to pass them back to you. > >>> > >>> So you don't necessarily have a "right" to the code. You are relying > >>> on the goodwill of "that person" to help you out. Of course, they > >>> might not even know who you are. They might not care. They might not > >>> ever ask for the source code. > >>> > >> > >> It's a common misconception. If a TV uses Linux (most LCD/LED TV use >Linux), > >> you do not need to show evidence you bought one in order to ask for > >> the Linux source code. > >> > >> See the GPLv2 (per Linux kernel) license text, > >> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.txt > >> > >> “Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, > >> to give **any third party**, for a charge no more than your > >> cost of physically performing source distribution,” > > > > That written offer goes to the recipient (your statement comes from > > 3(b), which is dependent upon the primary part of (3), which talks > > about distributions to a recipient). The recipient does not need to > > transfer or pass that offer to third parties. > > > > Here is the full sentence, omitting some details for clarity: > > a. You [i.e. manufacturer, etc] may copy and distribute the Program, > b. in object code or executable form > c. provided that you also > d. accompany it with a written offer > e. to give **any** third party > f. a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code > > > Again, you're relying on the goodwill of the recipient to get changes >returned. > > > > Anyone can get a copy of the source code for copyleft software. >
Please read: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinariesGetSource Directly from the FSF, authors of the GPL. You must have a copy of the written offer in order to be entitled to receipt of the source. > Tell me which LCD/LED TV you have (brand, model), and I'll get for > you the source code (of the copyleft) software. Only if you also have a copy of the written offer are they required to do so. See above. Ben -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to [email protected] Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/discuss/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
