What good is VNC's GPL?

[John Aldrich]

Steve:
I think the part that is applicable to these folks who have a commercial
product "based" on VNC is part 3a. That means they do NOT have to give the
modified source code to anyone who asks, they only *have* to include a copy
of the sourcecode with the binary when distributing it. At least that's MY
take on it based on what you posted. Then again, IANAL, so YMMV. :-)
	John

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Bostedor [mailto:Steveb "at" tshore.com]
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 8:49 AM
To: vnc-list "at" realvnc.com
Subject: RE: What good is VNC's GPL?


It is my understanding of the GPL that if you modify the source, your
distribution of your customized software (free OR paid for) must be
accompanied by the source code complete with modifications and a copy of
the GPL.  You can't just distribute your own binaries and wait for
someone to request the source and then ignore them.  That's my
understanding, anyways.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  Release of the source
is not optional.  You can charge a delivery fee but you absolutely can
not refuse to release the source code.

>From the GPL:

3.  You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:

    a) 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, 

    b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three
years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of
physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable
copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms
of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software
interchange; or, 

    c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to
distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only
for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in
object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with
Subsection b above.) 




-----Original Message-----
From: vnc-list-admin "at" realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-admin "at" realvnc.com] On
Behalf Of Rex Dieter
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 7:56 AM
To: vnc-list "at" realvnc.com
Subject: Re: What good is VNC's GPL?


Mike Miller wrote:
> On Thu, 7 Apr 2005, Steve Bostedor wrote:
> 
>> This is all just fantasy talk, anyways.  We KNOW that theirs is a
>> modified VNC because they spell it out on their website.  Who cares,
I 
>> guess.  It looks like everyone's doing it.  Integrity and doing the 
>> right thing just doesn't matter for anything these days, I guess.  
>> Kiss the GPL good-bye on this one.
> 
> 
> What did they do that was wrong.

What is in dispute/question is whether they are distibuting source to 
their (paying) customers or not.  If they are, nothing is wrong.  If 
they aren't, they are violating the GPL.  It seems, however, no-one in 
this discussion has actually purchased the product, so it's all been 
(mostly wild) speculation.
_______________________________________________
VNC-List mailing list
VNC-List "at" realvnc.com
To remove yourself from the list visit:
http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
_______________________________________________
VNC-List mailing list
VNC-List "at" realvnc.com
To remove yourself from the list visit:
http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list