Is this a GPL violation case?

[Torsten Schlabach]

 > yes, any derivative of linux is equally covered
 > by the terms of the GPL

Wouldn't that mean that there can never be any closed-source software on 
top of Linux? Or would a piece of software which a vendor sells that the 
user can install onto a Linux system be something different than a i a 
vendor bundles a Linux kernel together with proprietary closed-source 
software and sells this as a product as such. (Examples hat come to mind 
would for example be the SuSE Open Exchange Server)

 > In short, if they are selling it and you purchase it from them then

So are they only obliged to provide the source (or whatever) to someone 
who has purchased their product? They are not oblidged to make it 
publicly available or at least to anyone who asks?

 > they are obliged to give you the source code. if you ask for it

How would one ask "officially" enough?

And also, who would I have to ask in case I am buying the product from a 
channel partner? The manufacturer or the vendor?

Regards,
Torsten


mr schrieb:
> yes, any derivative of linux is equally covered by the terms of the GPL 
> regardless of how many times it has been derived. Whoever distributes it 
> is obliged to provide the sources including their modifications (if any) 
> and extend the rights of the GPL to whoever they give copies of the 
> software to.
> 
> In short, if they are selling it and you purchase it from them then they 
> are obliged to give you the source code.
> 
> PS, sorry Torsten for sending this to you three times now :)
> 
> On 5/14/07, *Torsten Schlabach* <tschlabach at gmx.net 
> <mailto:tschlabach at gmx.net>> wrote:
> 
>     Dear list!
> 
>     At a customer site, I came across an embedded Linux system which is
>     built upon uCLinux, http://www.uclinux.org/.
> 
>     The vendor of the system does not provide any pointers to the GPL at
>     all; at least not that I would be aware of.
> 
>     Unfortunately, I cannot find any license info about uCLinux as well. Is
>     it sufficient that uCLinux contains the Linux kernel for the GPL to be
>     applicable to uCLinux and would that then apply to the proprietary
>     vendor product as well?
> 
>     Regards,
>     Torsten
> 
>