Re: [gentoo-dev] GPL and Source code providing

[Mivz]

Chris Gianelloni wrote:
> On Wed, 2006-06-28 at 17:18 +0200, Mivz wrote:
>> Mike Doty wrote:
>>> Mivz wrote:
>>>>> Then I have got this one question, I don't need a answer too.
>>>>>
>>>>> How free is free software if you need a lawyer and a expensive server
>>>>> just to be able to publish your addition under your own name?
>>>>>
>>> Very free.  There are many project sites that will host your content if
>>> you have it under a GPL or similar license.  Similarly, as long as you
>>> provide the source, you satisfy the main point of GPL.  Thousands of
>>> projects do exactly this without any input from a lawyer.
>>>
>> But then it's still 'free beer', and not 'freedom'. I still can not
>> write a patch and make a cd with the patch applied to give to my mum and
>> my friends, without the risk of my intelligence being stolen and abused.
>> Or I have to go through the hassle of finding a provider, which of
>> course needs attention too.
>
> This is a common misconception.  All that you really need to provide is
> the patches.  If you, for example, made a Gentoo-based distribution, and
> made changes to 3 packages, you would only need provide the source for
> those three packages.  At most, providing a link to the upstream (us)
> packages/code/etc for everything else would be required.  Also, you are
> only required to provide source to the people you provide binaries to,
> and you're only required to do so on request.  Meaning that if you made
> a CD and only gave it to your mom, you don't need a server.  You just
> need to burn her a CD of source if she asked.  It really is that simple.
> The only way you need a server is if you're going about distributing it
> to the world, and you made a ton of changes.  Remember, the GPL just
> says that you have to provide the code.  Pointing someone to where they
> can get it *is* providing it, so long as any patches/changes you've made
> are also available under some means.
>

Tank you :) Now it all makes sens. Cause if you publish a live cd to a
large audience, you should be able to publish the rest also. Then it's
only a couple of GB on disk. If you make just a few for friends, a text
file with your email is enough. Now I see how nice the GPL adopts to the
size of your plans and audience.
And if it grows, it is also reasonable to provide a Gentoo mirror,
because it probably would also use the Gentoo network for distribution
of the base files.

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