where is the source code?
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| tuxchick May 30, 2007 11:35 AM EDT |
Soooo...where is the source code? Not one mention of it on their site. I am buried under deadlines- would some nice but stern LXer person contact them and ask them where is the source code?
If they try to weasel with "it's in a sekkrit place for customers" that is a violation of the GPL. It must be available to anyone. I am re-posting this because my first posting wandered into the wrong article. :( |
| Sander_Marechal May 30, 2007 12:00 PM EDT |
Quoting:If they try to weasel with "it's in a sekkrit place for customers" that is a violation of the GPL. It must be available to anyone. Uh, no. You only need to provide the code and the license to recipients of the binaries/device. The code or GPL is not on their website so it must be with the Yoggie (or at least a written offer to provide it must be). If not, only then is it a GPL violation. Perhaps we should try to find someone who bought one. |
| tuxchick May 30, 2007 1:01 PM EDT |
I'm pretty sure that the distribution requirement of the GPL says you must make sources available to anyone who wants them. This came up for an allegedly FOSS-based device that was featured here some months ago, and I seem to remember that Scott Ruecker and some other folks had a conversation with the vendor. I'll see if I can find a reference somewheres. |
| Sander_Marechal May 30, 2007 1:22 PM EDT |
Tuxchick, see the GPL FAQ on the GNU site: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePos... The source needs to be provided to the programs users, not the public in general. Related FAQ items: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#CanIDemandACopy and http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#WhatDoesWrittenOffe... and most importantly http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCDoesTheGPLRequir... It would be impossible to charge for a GPL program if you would be required to publish the source to the public in general. Offering the source to the public at large is only one way of satisfying the GPL. The two other methods are providing the source with the binary (e.g. the Yoggie comes with a CD containing the source) or providing a written offer to supply the source on demand. |
| pat May 30, 2007 1:25 PM EDT |
Pretty sure never cut the mustard. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePos... "But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's users, under the GPL." |
| tuxchick May 30, 2007 2:51 PM EDT |
Pat, "I'm pretty sure" is code for "please someone else find out". :) I'm going to keep looking, because this did come up before. From a practical standpoint you can't corral GPL code anyway, because users are permitted to share it. The bigger issue for me is they proudly proclaim their Linux-creds, then in the same breath boast of patented technologies and proprietary guff: "combines multiple enterprise-class applications with proprietary technologies on a hardened Linux operating system....patent-pending Adaptive Security(TM) policy..." Sooo... it raises a few questions. |
| Sander_Marechal May 30, 2007 3:50 PM EDT |
Tuxchick: pat is referring to your "pretty sure" in the 3rd post in this thread. He quotes exactly what matters. Source must be supplied to *users* of the program (the people that buy a Yoggie), not world+dog. I suggest you e-mail someone at the FSF if you're still in doubt. Perhaps even suggest they post the answer to the GPL FAQ. I'm pretty sure about this though. The GPL itself and the FAQ is quite clear about it. It only talks about users/recipients of the program. Nowhere it is ever mentioned that you must supply your source to world+dog. Sure, in 99% of the cases it's easier to simply release it to world+dog because it doesn't matter either way, but it's not a requirement. It's simply the one option out of three that most people take. |
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