Do download sites violate GNU GPL programs?
Lior W.
opensource.*.nwo at neverbox.com
Tue Dec 14 11:51:06 UTC 2010
VirtualDub is an example of a popular GNU GPL program for which only
binaries are hosted by download sites (except the official site).
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#SourceAndBinaryOnDifferentSites
(in case it's also relevant for the older GPLv2) states it's only valid
to not also host the source code) if they "provide clear instructions
people can follow to obtain the source." Well, they don't.
Moreover, I would bet they also don't "take care to make sure that the
source remains available for as long as you distribute the object code."
If the official site were to dissapear, does anyone here really think
they'll stop hosting VirtualDub? After all, download sites are known for
keeping files that have lost their official sites years (if not a decade)
ago. They usually don't even have a unique category for GNU GPL
softwares, which could have put them under special supervision.
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