On Fri, 10 Jun 2005, Technomage wrote: > 2. the x86_64 for Suse 9.3 has an installer that doesn't > work (because they have hidden the 9.3 directory under i386) > ... > 4. in their online docs, they stipulate that no on is > allowed to mirror this product in any way (in direct > violation of GPL which they agreed to by modification of the > linux source code)! > > my big question is this: What is wrong with this picture???????? The GPL, v.2, in each numbered clause requires certain behaviours as to the combined act of 'copy and distribute'. One may privately use GPL derived content without any general obligation to released forked code path sources to the world. The forked source provision duties, and such only arise when there is a 'distribution' Playing devil's advocate for a moment, how it is their duty to distribute (or facilitate others in distributing) their compiled distribution to a random third party, when it appears to be their intention and practice to prevent clause 3 copying by the disabling steps you outline? They have a clear right to proceed under section 3b, if, for example, they were doing a 'copy and distribute' delivery of some product to a customer or intended recipient. If there is no delivery, the GPL source availability, and binary re-distribution requirements simply do not kick in. They of course cannot restrict that recipient from publishing an archive of the GPL parts. But from what you say, the internet based distribution mechanisms seem to be consciously disabled. As to non-GPL parts (and there are many such packages in a modern distribution), different rules probably apply. The complete product may (and probably does) contain trademark restricted items, and possibly items which they may be prohibited from re-distributing (patent/license encumbered mp3 codec audio encoder packages, pine, flash players, java, etc.) What do you see as wrong? - Russ Herrold --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss