Re: Tom Tom and Microsofts Linux patent lock-down ..

[Alexander Terekhov]

Hyman Rosen wrote:
> 
> Alexander Terekhov wrote:
>  > http://www2.verizon.net/micro/actiontec/actiontec.asp
> <http://www.actiontec.com/support_cms/doc_files/MI424WR_Rev._ACD_User_Manual_4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.3_v6.pdf>
> <http://opensource.actiontec.com/mi1424wr/actiontec_opensrc_mi424wr_fw-56-0-10-7.tar.gz>
> 
>  > 
> http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-64669&brandind=5000020
> <http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5076358&brandind=5000020>

Verizon's electronic distribution of GPL'd binary code at

http://www2.verizon.net/micro/actiontec/actiontec.asp

is utterly non-compliant, silly.

Same as

http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-64669&brandind=5000020

which is also utterly non-compliant.

As for

http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5076358&brandind=5000020

well, according to the SFLC, it is non-compliant as well!

http://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2008/compliance-guide.html

"GPLv2 refers to the various storage mechanisms as “medi[a] customarily
used for software interchange”. While the Internet has attained primacy
as a means of software distribution where super-fast Internet
connections are available, GPLv2 was written at a time when downloading
software was not practical (and was often impossible). For much of the
world, this condition has not changed since GPLv2’s publication, and the
Internet still cannot be considered “a medium customary for software
interchange”. GPLv3 clarifies this matter, requiring that source be
“fixed on a durable physical medium customarily used for software
interchange”. This language affirms that option (a) requires binary
redistributors to provide source on a physical medium. 

[...]

In addition, if you are required to comply with the terms of GPLv2, you
cannot use a network service to provide the source code. For GPLv2, the
source code offer is fulfilled only with physical media. This usually
means that you must continue to produce an up-to-date “source code CD”
for years after the product’s end-of-life. 

Under GPLv2, it is acceptable and advisable for your offer for source
code to include an Internet link for downloadable source in addition to
offering source on a physical medium. This practice enables those with
fast network connections to get the source more quickly, and typically
decreases the number of physical media fulfillment requests. (GPLv3 §
6(b) permits provision of source with a public network-accessible
distribution only and no physical media. We discuss this in detail at
the end of this section.)"

LOL.

regards,
alexander.

--
http://gng.z505.com/index.htm
(GNG is a derecursive recursive derecursion which pwns GNU since it can
be infinitely looped as GNGNGNGNG...NGNGNG... and can be said backwards
too, whereas GNU cannot.)