[wellylug] Linux as selling point.

David Murray newslists at electronincantation.net.nz
Sat Aug 13 14:20:49 NZST 2005


On Sat, 2005-08-13 at 11:02, Phillip Hutchings wrote:
> > Yes - but the question is... who is using the software? Surely the
> > manufacturer is using the software to make its gadget work. The
> > purchaser of the gadget cannot choose to install or to uninstall  
> > any of
> > the embedded software.
> 
> That is completely irrelevant. The question is, as per section three,  
> have they distributed an executable form of the application. The  
> answer cannot be no. There is an executable form on the device. The  
> GPL doesn't care about how it is stored or where it will be executed,  
> or even if it will be executed at all. All that matters is that there  
> is an executable form of the program - and this could be a shell  
> script, a compiled C program, or even a Java jar file.


Yes - agreed - that is the case when distributing software. But if the
binary that the manufacturer is using in its gadget is completely
inaccessible by the public, then it can hardly be considered to be a
distribution of software.

What if the binary had been encrypted and required decryption before it
could be used in the gadget?

To what extent must it be inaccessible by the public? What if a hacker
got into your network and took copies of your binary? Would that count
as distributing the binary?

Where is the demarcation between you using it and others receiving it?

The GPL only discusses how others are to receive the software not how
you may use software.

What if you use that software in a gadget that is only normally used by
you, but you lend or hire that gadget to somebody else. Is that contrary
to the GPL?


Regards,

David Murray

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