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From: Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.unix.bsd.misc
Subject: Re: HELP Needed: Linux & BSD Unix
Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 21:56:07 -0700
Organization: Me
Lines: 32
Message-ID: <319D5867.24BAF1EA@lambert.org>
References: <Pine.OSF.3.91.960510184925.26923A-100000@leonis.nus.sg> <31977BC4.5104AB6B@lambert.org> <slrn4ppkku.2ef.dfox@belvdere.vip.best.com>
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David E. Fox wrote:
] >I thought "freely redistributable" meant "without obligation
] >on the part of the distrubtor". Otherwise there is a cost
] >associated with redistribution... the obligation incurred.
] >For GPL, this means becoming a distribution center (or
] >information hub) for a period of two years.
]
] I don't understand what you mean by this. Have all the Linux
] distributors (cd rom people) been a "distribution center" for
] two years, or have all the Linux ftp sites (and mirrors
] thereof) been up for that long?
The GPL requires you to distribute source (which may be
impractical; for instance, a bootp client in ROM on a 3C509
ethernet card... it may also not be cost effective) or
offer to supply source for a period of two years.
Technically, if I distribute binaries based on GPL'ed code,
I am no longer free to *not* distribute source. I am
sentenced to being a distributor for two years. I am
obl;igated by the GPL.
This is a perfectly acceptable thing, but it needs to be
noted in the context of "freely redistributable" that was
presenting GPL as an example.
Terry Lambert
terry@lambert.org
---
Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of my present
or previous employers.