Review of GPL code requirements text

[Benjamin Henrion]

ard-gpl at kwaak.net <ard-gpl at kwaak.net> [070215]:
> On Wed, Feb 14, 2007 at 09:56:07PM +0100, Florian Weimer wrote:
> > > If GPL code is modified in order to make improvements, all GPL sources
> > > used must be published so that others can rebuild the GPL code.
> > 
> > The obligation to publish sources is independent of the question
> > whether they have been modified.
> 
> But: You are only obligated to publish sources if you also
> publish binaries.
> If you make an (embedded?) device, with gpl'd software, and you
> rent that device to a third party, you are not publishing
> software, and hence you don't have to publish source code or
> anything.

I am not sure. The GPL talks about "distribution", and renting a piece
a software is a kind of distribution.

> If you use and modify GPL'd source code in house of a big company
> (like banking), you are not obligated to publish anything.

Yes, but in this case there is no exchange of the software with third
parties, which is probably the case with the fact of renting the device
to a third party.

-- 
Benjamin Henrion <bhenrion at ffii.org>
FFII Brussels - +32-484-566109 - +32-2-4148403