Conversion to Linux

[Luke Dashjr]

On Tuesday 04 November 2008 02:04:24 am Jeffrey Watts wrote:
> On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Luke Dashjr <luke at dashjr.org> wrote:
> > On Monday 03 November 2008 12:15:51 pm Jeffrey Watts wrote:
> > > Actually that's not why they do that.
> > >
> > > The source would get out regardless of what they do, as any customer
> > > who purchased a copy of RHEL would be legally able to release the
> > > SRPMs.
> >
> > Nothing legally obligates RedHat to provide source for their own tools
> > (RPM,
> > etc). If they do, nothing legally forces them to permit redistribution of
> > these tools.
>
> Well, the fact that the software is licensed under the GPL would obligate
> them.  :)

Not quite. The copyright holder can do whatever they want. The GPL only 
obligates licensees. RedHat could in theory license RPM under the GPL and then 
refuse to give you source. At this point, you would be unable to legally 
redistribute RPM yourself because YOU are bound to the GPL.