Francesco Poli wrote:
I think you chose the wrong example: the written offer possibility (clause 3b in GPLv2, clause 6b in GPLv3) is a non-free path through the GPL. In other words, if making the written offer were the *only* way to distribute GPL'd object code, the GPL would *not* meet the DFSG. This is my own opinion, but it seems to be shared by other debian-legal regulars: see, for instance http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/07/msg00595.html http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2005/07/msg00600.html
I think that proves, rather than disproves, my original point: these hypothetical scenarios have gotten out of hand.