MEPIS and GPL Compliance

Posted Aug 3, 2006 4:56 UTC (Thu) by sfeam (subscriber, #2841)
Parent article: MEPIS and GPL Compliance

So what happened to the argument that distribution via the web, be it ftp, http, bittorrent, or whatever, _is_ a "medium customarily used for software interchange", as required by clause 3b?

That may or may not have been true at the time the GPL was originally crafted, but it is without question true now. I am failing to understand how or why there is now a push to require a physical DVD be provided. Of course if MEPIS want to sell DVDs, that's fine, but that should be at their discretion.

MEPIS and GPL Compliance

Posted Aug 3, 2006 9:07 UTC (Thu) by tialaramex (subscriber, #21167) [Link]

They weren't asked to distribute DVDs. They weren't even asked to create their bizarre "agency" scheme that obliges them to provide source code for old MEPIS versions in perpetuity. They were just told that as a commercial distributor MEPIS must provide the source themselves instead of saying "We got it from $freedistro, try them". Yes, a web site or FTP site that was properly maintained by MEPIS would be an adequate solution.

What you're seeing is a temper tantrum, something people with kids will recognise. Rather than do what was asked they do something excessive instead and then look around for sympathy, "look what you made me do now".

Since they have fulfilled the requirements of the license, there's no reason to pay any more attention to MEPIS.