Subject: Re: Possible gpl problem?
From: David Woodhouse <dwmw2@infradead.org>
To: David Rees <drees76@gmail.com>
Cc: Gene Heskett <gene.heskett@verizon.net>,
       Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
In-Reply-To: <72dbd3150608280022ud3b61b7re3eefd65498b863@mail.gmail.com>
References: <200608280259.38493.gene.heskett@verizon.net>
	 <72dbd3150608280022ud3b61b7re3eefd65498b863@mail.gmail.com>
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Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 12:11:17 +0100
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On Mon, 2006-08-28 at 00:22 -0700, David Rees wrote:
> Just because a company doesn't have source freely downloadable on
> their website does not mean they are violating the GPL even if they
> are selling GPL licensed software. Only people who buy the GPL
> licensed software are entitled to a copy of the source of the binaries
> they receive.

That's true _only_ if the company ships the source _with_ the binaries
when people buy the product.

There are two (commercial) options:

1. If you _always_ distribute source _with_ the binaries, then you only
have to give source to those who receive binaries. And of course you've
already done so.

2. If you ever distribute binaries _without_ source code, then you're
obliged to make the source code available to _any_ third party on
request; _not_ only those to whom you gave the binaries.

-- 
dwmw2

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