Re: More FSF hypocrisy

[Hyman Rosen]

amicus_curious wrote:
> "Hyman Rosen" <hyrosen@mail.com> wrote
> news:Uf4zl.173520$xK6.65340@newsfe12.iad...
> >     <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html>
> >     However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under
> >     this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such
> >     parties remain in full compliance.
> >
> > This refers to people who have received the program accompanied by the
> > license.
> That is not what it says, silly.  It says that parties who have received 
> "copies" from you.  It makes no distinction about whether or not the 
> copy is given "properly", according to their definitions, at least.  
> Indeed, the whole section has its purpose as ensuring that the 
> downstream user has a valid license, i.e. "The act of running the 
> Program is not restricted...".

It says "received copies under this license". A recipient has
received something under the GPL if the distributor has given
it to him under the GPL, and that can only be done by giving a
copy of the GPL along with the covered work. Otherwise, if the
distributor had no other legal right to make and distribute
copies, the recipient simply has an illegal copy of the work.