[OT] some weird GPL licensing questions

[Roberto Alsina]

> Alexander Neundorf wrote:
>
>> Let's say I (in the case I would be an until now proprietary-only
>> developing software company) would decide to make a library
>> dual-licensed
>> GPL and commercial, I wouldn't have to put the GPL sources on a website,
>> right ?
>
> If you put the GPL'd binaries to the webpage, you must put there also the
> sources. Section 3:
> "If distribution of executable or object code is made by offering
> access to copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent
> access to copy the source code from the same place counts as
> distribution of the source code, even though third parties are not
> compelled to copy the source along with the object code."
>
> Note the "same place".

A nitpick: it's not the only way. You can put the binaries in a site, and
give sources for the cost of media, shipping and handling.

What the license says there is that if you put the sources along with the
binaries, you are not forced to provide them in another way (and thus
don't have to keep sources for every binary for three years, for
instance).

>> I would only have to ensure that everybody who buys the binary
>> version from me is able to get the sources for the binary, maybe he has
>> to
>> send me a mail and then I send him the sources. Right ?
> I think offering them the sources only if they request can be interpreted
> as
> a violation of GPL, as this is somewhat a restriction of their rights to
> get the sources. You may read the GPL FAQ, IIRC it has a section dealing
> with this case.

You can't compel someone to get the sources. You get the binaries, you get
a *right* to the sources, not an obligation.

I bet you can even give someone a binary, and a written offer saying that
you will ship the sources in paper  for the cost (about USD 7000 for KDE
is my guess ;-)

Of course you ain't gonna look good.

-- 
 ("\''/").__..-''"`-. .         Roberto Alsina
 `9_ 9  )   `-. (    ).`-._.`)  ralsina at kde.org
 (_Y_.)' ._   ) `._`.  " -.-'   KDE Developer (MFCH)
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Imminentizing the eschaton since 1971.