Factual wrong information in "Explaining BSD"

[Ceri Davies]

On Sun, Oct 22, 2006 at 12:06:45AM +0200, Kristian Poul Herkild wrote:
> At this url: 
> http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/articles/explaining-bsd/comparing-bsd-and-linux.html
> it is claimed (4.5) that the GPL does not allow binary-only 
> distribution. It is factually wrong.
> 
> The terms GPL license clearly states it is legal to distribute only the 
> binaries under certain circumstances (GPL 3b+c)
> 
> --
> 
> 3.  You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, 
> under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of 
> Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
> 
> *a) is removed
> 
>    b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three 
> years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of 
> physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable 
> copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms 
> of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software 
> interchange; or,
> 
>    c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to 
> distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only 
> for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in 
> object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with 
> Subsection b above.)
> 
> --
> 
> It would be nice to see it corrected, and the part "This is particularly 
> attractive for embedded applications." removed since the GPL does not 
> prevent usage in embedded applications. All which is required is to 
> follow the terms in 3b).

I think that the preceding sentence "In particular, any derivative work
of a product released under the GPL must also be supplied with source
code if requested" makes that reasonably clear.

Ceri
-- 
That must be wonderful!  I don't understand it at all.
                                                  -- Moliere
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