Re: [OSS] Re: Fwd: Second OSS Conference - Follow Up

At 06:19 30.01.2003 +0000, you wrote:
-------------------------
>In fact, i think its instructive to note how, even as a native English
>speaker, i:
>* i did not fully appreciate the relevance of the GNU/GPL's clause
>requiring source-binary accompaniment in distribution;

You/everybody interested should read not only the GPL, but the FAQ about it.
I didn't remember clearly by myself last time (when the issue came up
during the OSS Conference), and had a look again:

The sources don't have to be included with the binaries. If they want to
make a "One-CD-Distro" and the sources don't fit on that CD, then it is
fine, not to include them and to sell the CD alone. But if somebody wants
the sources, then basically it has to be easy to obtain them: From the same
place, for no cost (except reasonable cost for copying). They write
something about a written offer to supply the sources ... (although I
think, this "written offer" is not realistic ....)

In practice: If the binaries are available for download, then also the
sources should be available for download. If they don't make the binaries
available for download, then they don't need to make the sources available
for download (a common misunderstanding). If I buy a CD with binaries from
them, then they have to offer also CD(s) with sources. (Which Tuan told me
that they wanted - but it sounded like "only in special cases"). If I buy a
CD from a CD-ROM shop, then this shop has to offer also CD(s) with the
corresponding source code. It is not ok, to refer interested people to a
website, where download is very expensive, or to another place (like: "Ask
the VietKey Group for the sources - we don't have them here in the shop).

>Again, thanks for your leadership, Stefan.

Andi, thanks for repeated kind words :) but I don't consider myself as a
leader at all. Except in the army, the one who shouts the most and the
loudest is not necessarily the leader ;) I consider myself more of seeding
and caring in the initial stage. If I am lucky, then the seed falls at the
right time on the right ground and will grow strongly. It is the group
which makes the difference. Not a leader. (We are not Linux here, i.e. I am
not Linus Torvalds).

Besides that, this list here is clearly intended to support decision making
on different levels. The focus of this list should be therefore quite clear
and leadership will be more required for the whole undertaking, than for
this list.

What I envision is, that we identify and brainstorm the issues here, and
that everybody takes then his part and "leads" his area with everybody
supporting each other.

And, the MoST people (Loc, Chuong) will certainly be big over-all leaders.

All the best, mate,

Stefan

To facilitate co-ordination regarding the introduction of OSS SW in Vietnam

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