Re: Package Pool Proposal
On Mon, Dec 06, 1999 at 09:17:58AM -0500, Thomas Bushnell, BSG wrote:
> Craig Sanders <cas@taz.net.au> writes:
>
> > On Sun, Dec 05, 1999 at 09:14:39PM -0500, Thomas Bushnell, BSG wrote:
> > > Craig Sanders <cas@taz.net.au> writes:
> > > > it makes it a whole lot more difficult to mirror only the binaries
> > > > without source.
> > >
> > > This is generally not allowed under the GPL. A distributor is
> > > generally responsible for distributing or making the source available
> > > themselves.
> >
> > i'll be polite and simply say that this is not true.
> >
> > just because source is available does not mean i should be forced to
> > mirror it. i mirror debian at work so that i can keep my debian machines
> > updated from unstable. i also mirror it at home for the same reason.
>
> If you *distribute* the source, then what I said (strictly speaking)
> does apply to you. That's the burden that the GPL places on
> distributors. If your mirror is only for your own use (as you seem to
> indicate) then you aren't distributing anything, so it doesn't matter
> what you do.
Not true. Even if the mirror is open to the world, source code on each
and every mirror is not mandated:
| 3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
| under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
| Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
| c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer
| to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is
| allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you
| received the program in object code or executable form with such
| an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)
"Hi, we got these binaries from ftp.us.debian.org, and they say that
if you want the source, you can go to this URL or put this deb-src in
your sources.list" That is sufficient to meet the terms of the GPL.
Certainly it would be a 'good' thing if source were littering the
streets, but it is not mandated by the GPL.
--
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Sysadmin, C/Perl Hacker | If He used Emacs, He'd still be waiting
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Netscum, Bane of Elves.
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