Linked by Michael Valentine on Mon 28th Mar 2005 19:49 UTC
Linspire I decided to write this review to provide a quick inside to the new Linspire 5.0 released on March 15th, 2005. The review will determine the use of Linspire 5.0 in a SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Environment. The download was free for me since I'm a current CNR subscriber. UPDATE: Another Linspire review, and the Linspire 5.0 Live CD is now available for free download.
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RE: jaketate
by Lorenzo on Wed 30th Mar 2005 19:06 UTC

Paragraphs 3.a. and 3.b. of the GPL each have the remark:

"to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange"

Now I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on TV. However, I feel that Linspire:
1. Doesn't charge users for the FTP repository where the Source Code resides (source distribution mentioned in para 2.b.),
2. DOES, in fact, use, 'a medium customarily used for software interchange.'

The word 'customarily' in this instance refers to the level of training & exposure of the person who wants the source code. Would someone brand new to computing be expected to use an FTP site/repository right away? Of course not. Don't confuse the word, 'customarily,' with, 'universally.'

It's fair to state that people who want to work with source code would be EXPECTED to know how to use & access FTP sites. I think it would be extremely easy to argue that the those who work with source code would view FTP sites as a customary means of software interchange, as this means of s/w transfers has evolved into.

As for the Linspire EULA, when people purchase the boxed retail versions, they have the option of also downloading the appropriate ISO images (and future upgrades) of the OS. This could be viewed, as you stated regarding getting the source code "as the same method," the user originally obtained the s/w. That same method would be electronically. While that may seem a bit weak, I'm willing to beat a T-Bone Steak that it would pass a legality test; pehaps shakily, but it would pass.