Restriction on distribution by Novell?

[Wilson, Andrew]

Ben Tilly wrote:

> Therefore they fall under 3 b and
> must provide source to ANYONE who asks.
>
> Not just people who licensed software from them.
>
> Not just people who happen to have the binary.
> 
> ANYONE.

You know, just because you put something in caps
doesn't make it true.

You might try reading the FSF FAQ:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCWhatDoesWrittenOfferValid
This does a decent job of clarifying that the
written offer extends only to anyone who "has the offer."
Conversely, those who don't have the offer (indirect distributees
who did not get your coupon in the box) can't demand
the sources from you.

Also see
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCWhatDoesWrittenOfferValid,
which states quite directly you as a distributor "are not
required to do anything physically" for all unrelated third parties.

Andy Wilson
Intel Open Source Technology Center