Re: Distributing GPL Software as binary ISO

[Martin Schröder <ms@artcom-gmbh.de>]

On 2002-07-18 10:33:15 +0200, Martin Schulze wrote:
> The current status quo:
> 
>    a) Company A collects .deb files from Debian and builds an ISO file
>       that runs the system (life system).  This ISO only contains
>       binary packages, no source.  This CD is sold and distributed
>       freely through the internet.
> 
>       When asked about the source of the binary CD, company A points
>       to ftp.debian.org.
> 
>    b) An entity B (could be a company, or a single person, or a
>       project) lects .deb files from Debian and builds an ISO file
>       that runs the system (life system).  This ISO only contains
>       binary packages, no source.  This ISO image is distributed
>       freely through the internet and is sold on CD at an exhibition.
> 
>       When asked about the source of the binary CD, B points to
>       ftp.debian.org.
> 
> Questions:
> 
>  1. Is either a) or b) in complience with the GPL (assuming all
>     software is licensed using the GNU GPL.

No.

<quote src="http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DistributeWithSourceOnInternet";>
I want to distribute binaries without accompanying sources. Can I
provide source code by FTP instead of by mail order?

    You're supposed to provide the source code by mail-order on a
physical medium, if someone orders it. You are welcome to offer
people a way to copy the corresponding source code by FTP, in
addition to the mail-order option, but FTP access to the source
is not sufficient to satisfy section 3 of the GPL.

    When a user orders the source, you have to make sure to get
the source to that user. If a particular user can conveniently
get the source from you by anonymous FTP, fine--that does the
job. But not every user is on a network. The rest of the users
are just as entitled to get the source code from you, which means
you must be prepared to send it to them by post.

    If the FTP access is convenient enough, perhaps no one will
choose to mail-order a copy. If so, you will never have to ship
one. But you cannot assume that.

    Of course, it's easiest to just send the source with the
binary in the first place.
</quote>

Best regards
        Martin
-- 
               Martin Schröder, MS@ArtCom-GmbH.DE
          ArtCom GmbH, Grazer Straße 8, D-28359 Bremen
          Voice +49 421 20419-44 / Fax +49 421 20419-10


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