Kyle et al, This is irrelevant. If they are distributing software that is based on GPL code under a license other than the GPL then they are violating the GPL. They are also violating the GPL if they don't provide either the source code or a written offer to provide the source code to anyone to whom they have provided their software. Whether or not customers pay is irrelevant - a customer who downloads a trial version is still a customer.
Regards, Wez @ RealVNC Ltd. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kyle McDonald > Sent: 08 April 2005 14:05 > To: Mark Jacobs > Cc: vnc-list@realvnc.com > Subject: Re: What good is VNC's GPL? > > Mark Jacobs wrote: > > > > > Has anyone managed to get the source code off of these > guys? If not, > > *that* is what they are doing wrong, just like SmartCode > would not give > > out their source code, even though it should be exactly the > same as the > > code that you can request from Wez himself. GPL means you > must release > > the source on request, otherwise you cannot claim it is GPL. If you > > cannot claim it is GPL, then you cannot use that GPL source > code in your > > product. Therefore, it is clear-cut, and there is no > ambiguity here. > > Both companies *owe* us the source code, and we should be > able to email > > them once, and get it. > > > Actually, I think you're wrong about them 'oweing' us anything. > > The GPL states that they only have to offer, and provide the > sources to the people they distribute the binaries to. This means > theonly people that are 'owed' the sources are the paying customers. > > Of course once a paying customer has the source the GPL let's them > do whatever they want with it. So they can give it away for > no-cost if they like and the person they bought it from can't say > a thing. (and they shouldn't come under any reprisals from the > seller for doing so, but that seems to be ignored by the FSF in at > least one case - www.sveasoft.com ) > > But they *don't have to* give the source to us just because we ask. > > -Kyle > > > -- > _ > -------------------------ooO( )Ooo-------------------------------- > Kyle J. McDonald (o o) Systems Support Engineer > Sun Microsystems Inc. ||||| [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 1 Network Drive \\\// voice: (781) 442-2184 > Burlington, MA 01803 (o o) fax: (781) 442-1542 > --------------------------------ooO(_)Ooo------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > VNC-List mailing list > VNC-List@realvnc.com > To remove yourself from the list visit: > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list _______________________________________________ VNC-List mailing list VNC-List@realvnc.com To remove yourself from the list visit: http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
