On Fri, Jun 17, 2011 at 2:56 AM, BRM <bm_witn...@yahoo.com> wrote: > ----- Original Message ---- > >> From: Simos Xenitellis <simos.li...@googlemail.com> >> To: discuss@documentfoundation.org >> 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 <gst...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > On Thu, Jun 16, 2011 at 17:54, Simos Xenitellis >> > <simos.li...@googlemail.com> 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. >
So, what you are telling me is that if a manufacturer is already violating the GPL, then a third party cannot ask for the source code? Is this a claim that the GPL is not enforceable? If a product is violating the GPL, then you can ask http://gpl-violations.org/ for assistance so that the manufacturer makes available the source code as required, for the full range of products. For my TV, I click on a. Yellow button (documentation) b. (It's already on the Get started menu) c. Select "Open source Licenses". That's it. Simos -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to discuss+h...@documentfoundation.org 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
