That's like this fun fact where Microsoft needs to send you source code via post when you mail them a 5$ check. lol
Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
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Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#32GPL says that you can give that link to anyone you want.
If someone on HN has received one of these links, feel free to post it here.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#33Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I don't think they are? If filling out the source code request form via Google Forms and/or accessing the download link via Google Drive requires the requester to run non-free (or at least non-GPLv2) JavaScript, then maybe it is in violation of section 6 of the GPLv2 ("You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein") since the requester is then required to accep…
IANAL, but I don't think you're interpreting that correctly. I believe section 3.b and 3.c are the rights this is referring to, where you can request the source, and even be changed for the physical act . Suggesting this extends to the license of the implementation of their contact system doesn't make sense. No method of contact, except physical, is going to meet your requirements, including sending postage, where th…
I think it’s nuanced
I can see an argument that Google is requiring you to enter into a separate agreement with them (the terms they require you to agree to when using Google Forms) to request access to the GPL licensed source.
You do not enter into an agreement with the vendor of the software the postal service uses to sort your mail.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's not even that. Downstream projects host their own mirrors already, this is an annoying hoop to jump through for the maintainers (basically suck down a bunch of tarballs for every release, analogous to grabbing stuff from FTP sites back in the day), but not exactly a terrible hardship compared to the really very significant work of maintaining a large project.
There might be some merit to a claim that Google Drive isn't a medium customarily used for software distribution these days, but, yeah, it's definitely not paying a thousand+ cent bill in pennies, and I'm skeptical that it's a violation of the letter of the GPL. It is definitely a dick move by Google.
While I don't find any requirements on how timely the source distribution must be upon request, one can reasonably say that there must be a line between 1 nanosecond and 1 century.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#36Shameful acts.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
IANAL, but I don't think you're interpreting that correctly. I believe section 3.b and 3.c are the rights this is referring to, where you can request the source, and even be changed for the physical act . Suggesting this extends to the license of the implementation of their contact system doesn't make sense. No method of contact, except physical, is going to meet your requirements, including sending postage, where th…
I think it’s nuanced I can see an argument that Google is requiring you to enter into a separate agreement with them (the terms they require you to agree to when using Google Forms) to request access to the GPL licensed source. You do not enter into an agreement with the vendor of the software the postal service uses to sort your mail.
If they do force you into google forms and you can't send a letter then that's a potential issue.
Making you run javascript is a weaker argument...
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#38Google needs to lose in court here. This company is getting more and more evil by the day.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#39I don't think the real focus is on the tags, but on the delay here via a form as well as human interaction.
Worded differently, the simplest way to provide the source code is IMO via a URL that you can just wget. At the least this is done by so many projects out there. Google refusing to do so means Google wants to violate the GPLv2, since their alternatives are inferior.
https://distrowatch.com/ has many convenient links to URLs on the left side; I often use that to download the latest and greatest and compile it away, e. g. https://ftp.isc.org/isc/bind9/9.20.27/bind-9.20.27.tar.xz as a current example, taken from the left panel.
Re: Google has stopped pushing Git tags for some Android source code
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
IANAL, but I don't think you're interpreting that correctly. I believe section 3.b and 3.c are the rights this is referring to, where you can request the source, and even be changed for the physical act . Suggesting this extends to the license of the implementation of their contact system doesn't make sense. No method of contact, except physical, is going to meet your requirements, including sending postage, where th…
I think it’s nuanced I can see an argument that Google is requiring you to enter into a separate agreement with them (the terms they require you to agree to when using Google Forms) to request access to the GPL licensed source. You do not enter into an agreement with the vendor of the software the postal service uses to sort your mail.
Don't they force you to sign up for a Google account to be able to gate access to a Google Drive file?