[wellylug] Linux as selling point.

[Martin Bähr]

On Tue, Aug 09, 2005 at 05:34:58PM +1200, David Murray wrote:
> Yes - and are not those terms that you can use the source code in any
> way you like - freely. But *if* you modify that source code then you
> have to publish the source code to those changes.
> 
> But if you do NOT modify the source code, then you are FREE to do what
> you like with it 

most certainly not.
all that the gpl specifies is that source and binary must always go
together. so iff you publish a binary you must pulish the source.
iff you distribute a binary, you must distribute the source.

iff you give the binary to only one other person, you must give the
source to that one person, but you are not required to give it to anyone
else, you are not required to publish it either.

the only person that has a right to the source is the person who
received the binary.

> and if that means embedding binaries made from that
> source code within a gadget then so beit - especially if those binaries
> are un-extractable without breaking said gadget,

that's quite irrelevant. at least over here i may do what i want with
things that i own. if the binary is on any kind of data storage, even a
flash chip, it will be accessible if i take it apart, and with a bit of
playing around the chip is likely to be replacable by a rewritable one
where i can add my changes.

wether this voids the warranty or is supported does not matter. unless
the code is actually built in the chip (at which point it is not
software anymore, and will not likely resemble any existing gpld
software) the gpl applies.

> I could be wrong, however, and if there is a clause in the GPL which
> prohibits the usage of binaries produced from unmodified source code by
> hardware manufacturers, then please feel free to quote it.

the use of binaries is certainly not prohibited, it is only limited to
compliance with the gpl, which requires to make the source available.

greetings, martin.
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