From: Donncha O Caoimh (donncha.ocaoimh at domain tradesignals.com)
Date: Wed 17 May 2000 - 15:39:13 IST
If the program is running over X or cgi then it's not distributed. This
came up in an article about a company offering Linux desktops using VNC
over the Internet. They can hack their products and not release source
as users are only using the software, not being given it. I think. :)
IMO, people in the company represent the company and are part of that
entity. Therefore distributing a program in a company isn't giving it to
another "person". People can distribute the program outside the company
but if it's within their own(and company's) interest not to distribute
they won't and don't have to.
Donncha
Fergal Daly wrote:
>
> At 15:16 17/05/00, lbedford at domain wbtsystems.com wrote:
> >On Wed, May 17, 2000 at 03:09:56PM +0100, John P. Looney wrote:
> > > Yes. If you give them the executable, they should be provided with
> > > source, and the license, if they ask for it.
> >Hmm, I'm not convinced on this matter... GPL doesn't guarantee that you
> >have to give someone the program. So, giving it to people in the company
> >for internal use should be okay. The company can then restrict who you
> >can give the software to... so I couldn't give it to someone outside
> >the company.
>
> There are a couple of issues:
>
> Does the ability to run the binary mean the program has been distributed to
> you? Kate reckons yes, but what about if you run it by activating a CGI
> script (or over X as Aaron just pointed out). One could argue that the
> program is no longer running on your PC, but the PC in front of you in work
> isn't your PC either.
>
> Also if the "if they ask for it" only applies to source, the GPL says you
> must include one of either the source, a written offer or the information
> about the offer you received. Doesn't this mean that every time you install
> a GPL program you must _give_ all users who could potentially use it one of
> the above, not just _give if they ask_. Bit of a pain for users and admins.
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