Intent of source code distribution

Posted Sep 25, 2006 11:44 UTC (Mon) by anandsr21 (guest, #28562)
In reply to: Intent of source code distribution by spinality
Parent article: Kernel developers' position on GPLv3

"If an intent of the GPL is to ensure that the end user has the same ability to modify and use the source code as the distributor, then restrictive hardware seems to defeat its spirit. If the primary intent is to ensure transparency of function and sharing of modification, but not to preserve the technical ability to make changes, then such hardware is not a circumvention."

The problem is that it is impossible to ensure the second without ensuring the first.