Linux-kernel mailing list archive 2000-23,: Re: [LINUX-ABIT] Re: ABIT -- GENTUS Linux Steals GPL CODE AGAIN!!

# Re: [LINUX-ABIT] Re: ABIT -- GENTUS Linux Steals GPL CODE AGAIN!!

Benny Amorsen (amorsen@sscnet.com)
07 Jun 2000 16:52:20 +0200

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>>>>> "JS" == James Sutherland <jas88@cam.ac.uk> writes:

JS> If the kernel I'm using drops off the face of the earth, but I
JS> continue distributing it, I need to provide the sources myself;
JS> providing a (working!) URL to the source I used should be
JS> adequate, though? If the URL I'm using disappears, I need to
JS> find/create another one, of course, but that shouldn't happen...

Ok, take a look at the actual license. Any Linux system should contain
lots of copies of it.

GPL> 3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
GPL> under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
GPL> Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
GPL>
GPL> a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
GPL> source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections
GPL> 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software
GPL> interchange; or,

Abit clearly did not do that.

GPL> b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
GPL> years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your
GPL> cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete
GPL> machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be
GPL> distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium
GPL> customarily used for software interchange; or,

As far as I know no such offer was given.

GPL> c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer
GPL> to distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is
GPL> allowed only for noncommercial distribution and only if you
GPL> received the program in object code or executable form with such
GPL> an offer, in accord with Subsection b above.)

"Only for noncommercial distribution". What Abit is doing is not
noncommercial.

This means that even if Abit distributed binaries compiled from
completely unmodified sources, or even distributed binaries copied
verbatim from say RedHat, they would still be in violation of the
license.

Benny

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- Next message: bert hubert: "Re: journaling & VM (was: Re: reiserfs being part of the kernel: it'snot just the code)"
- Previous message: Stephen C. Tweedie: "Re: journaling & VM (was: Re: reiserfs being part of the kernel: it'snot just the code)"
- In reply to: James Sutherland: "Re: [LINUX-ABIT] Re: ABIT -- GENTUS Linux Steals GPL CODE AGAIN!!"