On Tuesday, August 09 2016, wiktor wrote: > Hi, > I'd like to request that you review an opensource project hosted on GNU > Savannah that misleads users and requires a fee to download its source > code. The project in question is a platformer game called reTUX that uses > graphics from the SuperTux game and is hosted at > http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/retux. > I've tried contacting the author to point out that it's a violation of the > GPL to withhold source code (or in this case, to ask money for it), and > it's also rather peculiar to be hosting password protected source code > tarballs on GNU Savannah. Included below is a copy of that email > conversation.
IANAL, but he is right. He's not "witholding the source code", he's just selling access to the binary (which will automatically grant you access to the source code, from what I understand). What's interesting is that once you have access to the source code, you are entitled to distribute it gratis if you want. It is not forbidden (although it's not usual) to charge for the program (binary) and for the distribution media. Notice that if you already have the binary, he cannot charge you for accessing the source code (he's not doing that, and he even offered to send you the source code, as far as I see). Now, if you know someone who have already paid for the game and have the source code, this person can give you access to it "for free" (as in price). BTW, he also mentioned that. Cheers, -- Sergio GPG key ID: 237A 54B1 0287 28BF 00EF 31F4 D0EB 7628 65FC 5E36 Please send encrypted e-mail if possible http://sergiodj.net/
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