Re: SFLC's GPL court enforcement -- track record

[Mark Kent]

thufir <hawat.thufir@gmail.com> espoused:
> On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:01:14 -0500, JEDIDIAH wrote:
> 
> 
>> No. Whomever distributes the software is on the hook for providing the
>> source.
>> 
>> You can force people to walk the chain all the way back to the
>> manufacturer, but they are still ultimately on the hook for using
>> someone elses work without proper authorization.
> 
> But, if you've just got a router sitting in your window which you 
> purchased on e-bay and are reselling, surely you, retailer, are not on 
> the hook?  Just the manufacturer, I'd think.
> 

That's not my understanding.  The GPL is reasonably clear on this, if
you distribute the software in binary form, such as on flash in a
router, then you must also make the source available to anyone who wants
it.  I suppose it's just possible you could negotiate with your customer
to accept it from a third party, but that hasn't been good enough in
several cases in the past.

-- 
| mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk                           |
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