Re: Lawyer request stop from downloading Debian

[Ken Arromdee <arromdee@rahul.net>]

On Mon, 25 Apr 2011, Michael Poole wrote:
> How do you reconcile your claim with these sections of the GPLv2 and
> v3, both referring to an executable or object-code form of the work?
>
> GPLv2, section 3:  You may "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.)"
> ...
> Arguably the GPLv2 clause doesn't apply because Debian is typically
> distributed with the source code available on the same "medium"
> (server), rather than with a written offer to provide source code

You just answered your own question.  That section only applies if you got a
written offer.  People who use Bittorrent to download (and therefore to
upload) Debian don't have a written offer, so they can't take advantage of
that clause.  (Debian itself is, as you point out, distributing source on the
same medium, so may be okay, but the downloader isn't.)