*BSD News Article 56897


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From: torvalds@cc.Helsinki.FI (Linus Torvalds)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: GPL (was Re: Linux vs FreeBSD)
Date: 13 Dec 1995 07:51:33 +0200
Organization: University of Helsinki
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Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.advocacy:30361 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:10476

[ sorry for those people reading this in bsd.misc, but this is
  crossposted to linux.advocacy too.. ]

In article <4ahtib$ckq@helena.mt.net>,
Nate Williams <nate@sneezy.sri.com> wrote:
>
>This one's been answered, but the GPL requires that if *YOU* distribute
>binaries of GPL software *YOU* are required to distribute the source code
>for up to 3 years.

Incorrect.  Either you can't read, or you just enjoy spreading fud and
misinformation (the latter is perfectly ok, as this _is_ an advocacy
group, but for the same reason I'm also allowed to flame you royally for
being such a jerk). 

If you distribute binaries of GPL'd code, you have no such obligation at
all, _assuming_ you also distribute the source with the binaries.  There
is no 3-year rule in that case at all, so the _only_ overhead of
distributing GPL'd binaries is that you have to distribute the source in
the same package. 

Now, nobody in his right mind uses floppies for software distribution
any more, so I don't really see the reason for whining about the size of
sources.  You can easily fit sources on a CD (or two - CD costs can't be
high if people actually make money off selling 4-CD distributions for
$25 USD).  And that releases you of all future obligations.. 

Essentially, your argument above is totally bogus, and I hereby declare
it null and void. 

[ Now, the argument that some people don't want to distribute sources in
  the _first_place_ is another matter, but that's even easier to handle:
  don't use a GPL'd base.  If you don't want to distribute sources, why
  do you think you have any right to use the work of other people? Write
  your own code from scratch, and _then_ do a binary-only distribution ]

Hitler, Hitler, HITLER.  End of thread. 

		Linus