[LAD] GPL Violation Alert! - Sorry if this is a duplicate

[Chris Cannam]

On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM, Forest Bond<forest at alittletooquiet.net> wrote:
> If you are distributing unmodified GPL code, is it sufficient to point to the
> GPL project's source code (a link to the release page or something)?

No.  You can offer to provide the code only on request (section 3b),
but it has to be you who provides it.

The closest thing to an exception for this is section 3c which allows
non-commercial distributors to pass on the offer their received for
source if they received the code under 3b (the only place where GPLv2
distinguishes between commercial and non-commercial distribution).
But most free software is initially distributed under 3a rather than
3b, and that's what your question seems to imply as well.

This requirement is sometimes overlooked with unfortunate consequences
(c.f. the MEPIS distribution furore of a couple of years ago).

Note: assuming GPLv2 here.


Chris