[Fsf-friends] Re: [fsug-kochi-discuss] Re: {Arun M] Another world is possible
gnu@vsnl.net
gnu@vsnl.net
Mon, 20 Jan 2003 11:55:57 +0500 (IST)
I am afraid you are wrong here. GPL'd software need not be open to
any third party. ie, If I sell you a GPL'd software I should give
you the source also along with the binary. But I need not give
your friend the source of same same software till he purchases it.
Thanks. I stand corrected. I quote sec 3.
You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms
of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the
following:
* a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections
1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software
interchange; or,
* b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your
cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete
machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be
distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium
customarily used for software interchange; or,
[....]
The important point to note is that the first para says "...you also
do *one* of the following..". Since the party involved is already
distributing source to the customers, (which is (a)), he does not
need to do (b).
thanks Dileep, for pointing this error out.
best regards
ramakrishnan