Re: Legality of .DEBS in Medialinux.
Knoppix should be distributing the source from the same location that you would get the CD, so its still compliant with the GPL. Really I couldn't find the sources of Knoppix anywhere. The fact seems that it is necessary for correct application of the GPL, but it is not respected so much indeed. So I have to publish for every *.deb a *-src.deb? The real issue comes when you are handing out or selling binary only cds. Those need to have a written offer for source valid for three years (for the GPL) I would point to the Debian Source, is it right? , or the source needs to be available at the same time for no extra cost. This I don't understand. Seems like I have to create an ISO with only the sources. Is there a program who download the sources for a given list of packages? Not to seem un-ethical, but if MrKnoppix doesn't do this, why should I do it (I mean publish the sources cd) that I am a much smaller and derivative project? Anyway I'm still considering this possibility, cause Medialinux was born as a project for the students of our school, but it looks like it has many possibilities more... I'm just very sorry I have to tell to my users that they will not use this to look at their payed DVD, 'cause they have to pay for the software again. And that I need the double of the space on the server (that in our case is hosting us for free, in pure Linux tradition) to put also the sources. Thanks so much, Marco Ghirlanda
Re: Legality of .DEBS in Medialinux.
Marco Ghirlanda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Knoppix should be distributing the source from the same location that you would get the CD, so its still compliant with the GPL. Really I couldn't find the sources of Knoppix anywhere. Actually, Knoppix provides a written offer good for three years. See http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2003/debian-legal-200304/msg00438.html for a summary of the situation. The fact seems that it is necessary for correct application of the GPL, but it is not respected so much indeed. So I have to publish for every *.deb a *-src.deb? Basically. The real issue comes when you are handing out or selling binary only cds. Those need to have a written offer for source valid for three years (for the GPL) I would point to the Debian Source, is it right? Nope. Debian has not made any guarantees that it will be around in three years. , or the source needs to be available at the same time for no extra cost. This I don't understand. Seems like I have to create an ISO with only the sources. Yes. Regards, Walter Landry [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Legality of .DEBS in Medialinux.
On Tue, Nov 11, 2003 at 05:36:33PM +, Marco Ghirlanda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Knoppix should be distributing the source from the same location that you would get the CD, so its still compliant with the GPL. Really I couldn't find the sources of Knoppix anywhere. http://www.google.com/search?q=knoppix+sources first link. The real issue comes when you are handing out or selling binary only cds. Those need to have a written offer for source valid for three years (for the GPL) I would point to the Debian Source, is it right? You would have to provide the source yourself if asked to. , or the source needs to be available at the same time for no extra cost. This I don't understand. Seems like I have to create an ISO with only the sources. no. What you can do is add written offer to provide the sources to whoever ask for them, and, additionnally, point to Knoppix sources, Debian sources, and Christian Marillat's sources. The number of people directly asking you for the sources should be quite low ... Lucas
Re: Legality of .DEBS in Medialinux.
Scripsit Lucas Nussbaum [EMAIL PROTECTED] Marco Ghirlanda [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This I don't understand. Seems like I have to create an ISO with only the sources. no. What you can do is add written offer to provide the sources to whoever ask for them, and, additionnally, point to Knoppix sources, Debian sources, and Christian Marillat's sources. The number of people directly asking you for the sources should be quite low ... However, most people would probably find it easier simply to offer the source code from the same FTP server in parallel with the binaries. It does not have to be ISO images [1]; separate files for each package should be fine. That way one does not have to bind oneself to keeping a 3-year backlog of old sources. (Why Knoppix does not do this, but it's their prerogative to do it the hard way if they choose to). [1] However, ISO images might discourage people from downloading if they only want source for a single package, and thus save on bandwidth. -- Henning Makholm Gå ud i solen eller regnen, smil, køb en ny trøje, slå en sludder af med købmanden, puds dine støvler. Lev!
ttfn
The growth of other commitments and my increasing disgust for the anti-free positions of the FSF are causing me to reevaluate many of my commitments. As a consequence, I am signing off many of the Debian lists I have been active on, most notably, debian-legal. I am still interested in the issues discussed here, and upon request I will gladly take a look at an issue or post and respond, if someone brings it to my attention. Thomas
