Re: Debian and non-free

[Hubert Chan <hubert@uhoreg.ca>]

>>>>> "Markus" == Markus Törnqvist <mjt@nysv.org> writes:

Markus> On Sun, Apr 25, 2004 at 07:47:32PM -0400, Hubert Chan wrote:
>>>>>>> "Markus" == Markus Törnqvist <mjt@nysv.org> writes:
>> 
>> Or companies can just keep the binary, and their sources, private
>> i.e. for internal use only.  That kind of use is allowed by the GPL.

Markus> Licensing issues give me a headache, that's why IANAL.  A bit
Markus> off-topic: I thought the GPL allows the above scenario only
Markus> until someone requests the changes you've made?  Or is that only
Markus> in the case that you're distributing a derived work without
Markus> source code?

The GPL requires that you need to distribute (or provide, on request)
the sources to those to whom you provide the binaries.  If you don't
give anyone the binaries, you don't have to give anyone the modified
sources.

I think things get complicated for companies -- when does an employee
become a part of the corporate entity, and when is he/she a private
individual.  i.e. do you still have to provide sources to employees?
IANAL, so I can't comment.

[...]

>> I actually wouldn't be surprised if the installer for sarge+1
>> included Reiser4.  All that's really needed is for Reiser4 to get
>> into the stable kernel, and someone to write (good) support for
>> debian-installer.

Markus> I started to do this about a week ago.

Excellent.  I hope you succeed.  Unfortunately, I can't offer any
assistance, at least not at this time.  My pile of side projects is
already fairly large.  But if you make any significant progress, I'd be
interested in hearing from you (as would most of the list, I suppose).

-- 
Hubert Chan <hubert@uhoreg.ca> - http://www.uhoreg.ca/
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