3 ms·

http://mjg59.livejournal.com/111453.html http://mjg59.livejournal.com/111453.html from the post: "instead Palm have included a written offer to supply the sour

by igorgue 17y ago

http://mjg59.livejournal.com/111453.html http://mjg59.livejournal.com/111453.html from the post: "instead Palm have included a written offer to supply the source code on request. This satisfies the GPL"

metachris 17y ago
does just a "written offer to supply the source code on request" satisfy the GPL? i hope not, because that would leave quite some room for abuse to the point where you need to go to court to get the source.
- sp332 17y ago
  How would this be abused? Ask for the source code, and they are required to give it to you.
  - metachris 17y ago
    well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies). don't you think so? it could be like calling google trying to reach an engineer from adsense. -> of course a company could delay sending you the code, which could ultimately force you to go to the court to get it. has anyone received the cd already?
    - omouse 17y ago
      well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies) Take them to court if it isn't supplied within a reasonable amount of time and notify the FSF and the SFLC: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ http://www.softwarefreedom.org/
      - metachris 17y ago
        yeah. i was just interested if palm is really releasing all their code, or if they try to get away with releasing bits. and, most importantly, if it satisfies the GPL to have a "written offer to supply the source code on request"
  - jnorthrop 17y ago
    Could they just print it out and give that to you?
    - sp332 17y ago
      Yeah, I think so.
    - rbanffy 17y ago
      Many popular licenses ask for a machine-readable source along with all the extra files (makefiles and so on) required to build the thing in the same configuration as it is distributed in binary form
- whughes 17y ago
  It is, explicitly said by the FSF: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html GPLv3: 6. Conveying Non-Source Forms. You may convey a covered work in object code form under the terms of sections 4 and 5, provided that you also convey the machine-readable Corresponding Source under the terms of this License, in one of these ways: b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge. c) Convey individual copies of the object code with a copy of the written offer to provide the Corresponding Source. This alternative is allowed only occasionally and noncommercially, and only if you received the object code with such an offer, in accord with subsection 6b. GPLv2: 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: b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, 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.) FAQ mentions it: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinariesGetSource http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinari... Also, take the quiz to test your knowledge of free software licenses! http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi

by igorgue 17y ago

metachris 17y ago

does just a "written offer to supply the source code on request" satisfy the GPL? i hope not, because that would leave quite some room for abuse to the point where you need to go to court to get the source.

sp332 17y ago
How would this be abused? Ask for the source code, and they are required to give it to you.
- metachris 17y ago
  well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies). don't you think so? it could be like calling google trying to reach an engineer from adsense. -> of course a company could delay sending you the code, which could ultimately force you to go to the court to get it. has anyone received the cd already?
  - omouse 17y ago
    well, a company like palm could find numerous ways to not send you the cd in time (delaying strategies) Take them to court if it isn't supplied within a reasonable amount of time and notify the FSF and the SFLC: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ http://www.softwarefreedom.org/
    - metachris 17y ago
      yeah. i was just interested if palm is really releasing all their code, or if they try to get away with releasing bits. and, most importantly, if it satisfies the GPL to have a "written offer to supply the source code on request"
- jnorthrop 17y ago
  Could they just print it out and give that to you?
  - sp332 17y ago
    Yeah, I think so.
  - rbanffy 17y ago
    Many popular licenses ask for a machine-readable source along with all the extra files (makefiles and so on) required to build the thing in the same configuration as it is distributed in binary form
whughes 17y ago
It is, explicitly said by the FSF: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html GPLv3: 6. Conveying Non-Source Forms. You may convey a covered work in object code form under the terms of sections 4 and 5, provided that you also convey the machine-readable Corresponding Source under the terms of this License, in one of these ways: b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge. c) Convey individual copies of the object code with a copy of the written offer to provide the Corresponding Source. This alternative is allowed only occasionally and noncommercially, and only if you received the object code with such an offer, in accord with subsection 6b. GPLv2: 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: b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or, 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.) FAQ mentions it: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinariesGetSource http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#RedistributedBinari... Also, take the quiz to test your knowledge of free software licenses! http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi http://www.gnu.org/cgi-bin/license-quiz.cgi