Re: open source distribution
On Sat, Aug 30, 2003 at 03:44:21PM +0200, Arnt Karlsen wrote:
>
> ..correct, offer an _available_ url.
Not really, from the GPL FAQ:
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
can do such a download. 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.
--
Rudy Gevaert rudy@zeus.UGent.be
Web page http://www.webworm.org
GNU/Linux user and Savannah hacker http://savannah.gnu.org
A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only
advise his clients to plant vines.
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959 )
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It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
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