[maemo-developers] Ask for removal of some packages from Extras Fremantle repository

[From: Attila Csipa]

On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 7:55 AM, Andrew Flegg <andrew at bleb.org> wrote:

> > requirement IF and ONLY IF you choose to provide the sources through a
> > written offer (instead of accompanying the binaries through neighbouring
> > links, which is actually what maemo.org does).
>
> However, I think that link is the "written offer"; let's consider 3a again:
>
> > ACCOMPANY it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source
> > code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2
> > above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
>
> I've added the emphasis. The source code does *not* accompany every
> download from maemo.org (consider the HAM case as it perfectly
> demonstrates it).
>
> If the source code doesn't accompany every download, then 3a doesn't
> apply so one of 3b or 3c must.
>

Accompanying source can get to be a tricky term and the GPL
FAQ<http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html>does not quite interpret
it the way you did (it goes as far as to say even
different sites and distributions mechanisms can be acceptable). Considering
HAM is just a front-end, I would say it does not really matter in this
question (the system is still fundamentally apt based and youre perfectly
capable to apt-get source). Here are a few related snippets from the FAQ:


*I want to distribute binaries via physical media without accompanying
sources. Can I provide source code by FTP?*

Version 3 of the GPL allows this; see option 6(b) for the full details.
Under version 2, you're certainly free to offer source via FTP, and most
users will get it from there. However, if any of them would rather get the
source on physical media by mail, you are required to provide that.

If you distribute binaries via FTP, you should distribute source via
FTP.<#AnonFTPAndSendSources>
*Can I put the binaries on my Internet server and put the source on a
different Internet site?*

Yes. Section 6(d) allows this. However, you must provide clear instructions
people can follow to obtain the source, and you must take care to make sure
that the source remains available for as long as you distribute the object
code.
*Am I complying with GPLv3 if I offer binaries on an FTP server and sources
by way of a link to a source code repository in a version control system,
like CVS or Subversion?*

This is acceptable as long as the source checkout process does not become
burdensome or otherwise restrictive. Anybody who can download your object
code should also be able to check out source from your version control
system, using a publicly available free software client. Users should be
provided with clear and convenient instructions for how to get the source
for the exact object code they downloaded—they may not necessarily want the
latest development code, after all.
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