MPL and Source Code

Steve Langasek vorlon at debian.org
Tue Apr 4 03:03:37 UTC 2006


On Tue, Apr 04, 2006 at 12:23:09PM +1000, Craig Southeren wrote:
> > > Because if it is Debian policy to distribute binaries where the source
> > > code is not guaranteed to be publically available, then yes, I think
> > > that could be a problem regardless of whether the license is MPL or GPL.

> > The source code is guaranteed to be publicly available for as long as 
> > the binary is, but no longer.

> This is in violation of most Open Source licenses. 

> For example, the GPL requires source to be available on demand for up to
> three years after distribution of the binary by electronic means.

False.  The GPL requirements are satisfied by making the source code
available together with the binaries.  The FSF has clarified that
distributing works together on an ftp site satisfies the intent of the GPL's
requirement of "a medium customarily used for software interchange".  In
contrast, the MPL includes language that explicitly excludes this
interpretation.

-- 
Steve Langasek                   Give me a lever long enough and a Free OS
Debian Developer                   to set it on, and I can move the world.
vorlon at debian.org                                   http://www.debian.org/
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