[copyleft-next] Network access to Corresponding Source

Stephen Michael Kellat skellat at fastmail.net
Sat Feb 9 18:31:45 UTC 2013


On 02/08/2013 10:37 PM, Richard Fontana wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 08, 2013 at 04:49:29PM -0500, Joshua Gay wrote:
>> Both Section 7(ii) and Section 8 allow users to provide the
>> Corresponding Source from a network location so long as it is provided
>> at no charge.
>>
>> I would like to add additional requirements.
>>
>> The basic thing I'm looking for is that the source be made publicly
>> available and not put behind some wall of inconvenience (such as
>> requiring a specific device or requiring a user account, etc). 
>>
>> Below are
>> three sections: 1) stuff I want to prevent, 2) stuff I don't want to
>> prevent, 3) stuff I'm not sure about.
>>
>> ## Stuff I want to prevent
>>
>> A person providing source shouldn't make a user do any of the following
>> in order to be able to download the source:
>>
>> * Create a user account
>> * Undergo identity verification/authentication (or sign in with some
>> third party service like Facebook or Twitter)
>> * Complete a survey or lengthy data collection process.
>> * First request send a request to the host that your IP address be added
>> to a whitelist
>> * Require the use of running proprietary software in order to download
>> the source code (e.g., requiring the use of some proprietary App Store
>> App).
>> * Require the use of a specific kind of device or require a person to
>> spoof device metadata (similar to how the Android App store will prevent
>> you from downloading an App that is not compatible with a certain device).
>> * Require some PACER like step of having a PIN mailed to you in the mail.
>>
>> With the exception of PACER, I have encountered each of the above issues
>> when trying to download source of programs licensed under the GPL.
> Any suggestions for how to do this in ~25 words or less? 
>
> [snip]

How about:

"Corresponding source shall be accessible via non-proprietary means of
access without charge, need for identity verification, or user traffic
logging."

That comes to 20 words and would be a start.

Stephen Michael Kellat



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