Subj : life, then end and everything
To   : Francois Thunus
From : Lawrence Garvin
Date : Fri Jun 13 2003 07:30 pm


Francois wrote to Lawrence at 14:39 07 Jun:

 RJT>> I've not gotten the impression that there are really that much in
 RJT>> the way of differences between them.

 LG> Very few of the Linux distributions available today are entirely
 LG> "without cost" to the end user.

 FT> I'd say you've been misinformed.

Shall we take a census of Linux distributions, with respect to which ones are 
"freely available" via Internet download, and which ones require "purchase" of 
a media kit either via direct fulfillment or retail acquisition?


 LG> Many of them are only available through retail or direct sale
 LG> channels.

 FT> no. As per the distribution licence, there has to be a version
 FT> available, most make it available by download.

No.. actually nothing in the GPL says the product has to be "freely available". 
What it says is that the SOURCE CODE has to be made available with the product 
WHEN distributed. Furthermore, nothing in the GPL prevents a distributor from 
charging a fee for the privilege of downloading the full distribution.

--- 
 * Origin: lawrence@eforest.net | The Enchanted Forest (1:106/6018)

.