When does a vendor need to provide sourcecode for products?

[Armijn Hemel]

On Thu, Oct 26, 2006 at 12:31:31PM +0200, Daniel Meyer wrote:

> >>Well, this is a clear violation of the GPL i think. The problem is: The
> >>vendor does not have a download/trial version available on the website. So
> >>my question is: Does the vendor need to provide the source code for the
> >>GPL parts of the software to anyone or just to customers?
> >
> >That depends. There are basically two options, which are outlined in the
> >GPL in sections 3a and 3b. The 3a section says (roughly said): ship the
> >sourcecode with the product, section 3b says (again, roughly): add an offer
> >for the sourcecode for any third party, valid for three years.
> 
> Ah, ok. So almost impossible to check as a non-customer of the product...

Basically, yes. Accusing companies of GPL incompliance, while they are in
fact GPL compliant, is in nobody's interest :)

armijn

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