[ILUG] GPL source code for embedded systems

[Niall]

On Wed, Mar 15, 2000 at 02:30:23PM +0000, Colin Whittaker wrote:
> Niall stated the following on Wed, Mar 15, 2000 at 01:34:02PM +0000 :
> > On Wed, Mar 15, 2000 at 12:48:40PM +0000, Colin Whittaker wrote:

> So if I buy a boxset of some distro in a bookstore, the bookstore is
> responsible for explaining my rights under the gpl to me?
> 
> seems wrong somehow

It may seem wrong, but it's a large part of what the GPL is about. Have a
look in the GPL preamble at the paragraph

For example, . .  know their rights.

Of course it's not reasonable to think that the bookstore clerk (or the poor
guy in Powercity) is going to point out the GPL to you. The boxed set of a
distribution will point out the GPL, and any book including a Linux
distribution should do so as well, and I imagine that that could reasonably
be construed as "show them these terms so they know their rights."

In this case, the publisher of the distribution is complying with the GPL by
publishing it with their distribution. The bookstore acquires a copy of the
distribution by buying it from the distributor, and they comply with the GPL
by simply passing on what they get.

This could be discussed ad nauseum, particularly by a bunch of non-lawyers.
AFAIR the GPL has never been challenged in a court, and opinions seem to
vary as to what the outcome of such a challenge would be. Factor in
different legal jurisdictions, and you get a right pot of stew :-)


Kindest regards,


Niall  O Broin