> Programs on ftp sites are distributed over the net, they are not > distributed over (on) ftp sites. IMHO the question is what medium > is the work transported over/through during the copying from one > person/computer to another, not what media the work is stored on > before the copying.
Answer the following question: where did user X get a copy of package A? Replying "over the net" does not sufficiently specify the package's origin. Replying "from the Debian ftp site" or "from a Cheap-Bytes CD" does. Therefore, I would say that the ftp site or the CD is the means of distribution. > > if a file is found in a directory tree, the directory tree also > > contains another file with the GPL. > > I don't think a directory qualifies as a medium. > > >From WordNet (r) 1.6 [wn]: > > medium > [...] > 3: an intervening substance through which signals can travel as > a means for communication > [...] > CD-ROM yes, net yes, directory no. You're splitting hairs, but if you want to play this game, I'll follow. Notice that a CD-ROM does not satisfy the definition that you cited. Signals do not "travel through" a CD-ROM. In the case of publishing software, I would suggest that the first definition (which you omitted) provides a better fit: "a means or instrumentality for communicating" (i.e., sharing information). > > Many (if not most) copylefted C source files contain such a notice > > as a comment in the header and therefore satisfy the definition. > > Since such a file can be considered a "downloadable entity" > > (certainly any file can be downloaded by itself), then by what you > > have said above, each file must "have the GPL inside it." > > Right, _if_ each file is available separately for download. Which is precisely the case for any CVS server. Nevertheless, I don't believe that the vast amount of GPLed software distributed by such means are in violation of either the spirit or the letter of the GPL. - Brian
