Why is Fedora not a Free GNU/Linux distributions?
Les Mikesell
lesmikesell at gmail.com
Tue Jul 22 19:11:12 UTC 2008
Antonio Olivares wrote:
>
> If a person releases some code like that, he has to supply the source at a resonable cost of copying any time for the following 3 years?
It's generally easier to just give the source along with the binaries.
But if you don't, the GPL requires the written 3-year obligation.
> What if the person dies?
> Then the software that person has released is not fully GPL because that person will not be able to comply with that part of the GPL. He/She has passed away and cannot release the source much less asked to release it, unless there is divine intervention from heaven which may or may not happen!
>
> This can happen to a company as well, if a company comes up and releases a Linux distro/GNU/Linux distro and they release several iso's and not post the src code, the original sources + the modified versions(their own modified versions). Then the company has troubles and it goes belly up, that is goes bankrupt/shuts down/violates some Federal law or other major disaster. How does the GPL make sure that those guys comply with the GPL?
It's hard to make a dead person or company comply with anything... So
if you want the sources, get them right away.
--
Les Mikesell
lesmikesell at gmail.com
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