Is fetching source RPMs in linux ports really required?

[M. Warner Losh]

In message: <20090605133321.GA18653 at hades.panopticon>
            Dmitry Marakasov <amdmi3 at amdmi3.ru> writes:
: Hi!
: 
: I have concerns with linux ports fetching source RPMs when
: PACKAGE_BUILDING is defined. As I understand, that is done to comply
: with GPL, however GPL does not strictly require mirroring sources,
: and just a not on where t get them would suffice. Here's forward
: of message with details.

I don't think that GPLv2 section 3c applies because we've not received
an section 3b offer to redistribute.  Instead, the RPMs are provided
under section 3a.  The FSF made a big deal about this not being
sufficient a while ago.

I've not done a GPLv3 analysis.

Warner

: ----- Forwarded message from Dmitry Marakasov <amdmi3 at hades.panopticon> -----
: 
: Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 21:10:55 +0400
: From: Dmitry Marakasov <amdmi3 at hades.panopticon>
: To: Boris Samorodov <bsam at ipt.ru>
: Cc: ports-committers at FreeBSD.org, cvs-ports at FreeBSD.org,
: 	freebsd-emulation at FreeBSD.org
: Subject: Re: cvs commit: ports/Mk bsd.linux-apps.mk bsd.linux-rpm.mk
: 	ports/accessibility Makefile ports/accessibility/linux-f10-atk
: 	Makefile distinfo.i386 pkg-plist ports/archivers Makefile
: 	ports/archivers/linux-f10-ucl Makefile distinfo.i386 ...
: 
: * Boris Samorodov (bsam at ipt.ru) wrote:
: 
: > This is used while packaging to pet GPL which ensures that sources
: > are available together with binaries.
: 
: Is that absolutely necessary? It seems to be that GPL does not require
: doing this.
: 
: >From GPLv2:
: ---
: 3.  You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
: under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
: Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
: 
: c)  Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to
: distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only
: for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in
: object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with
: Subsection b above.)
: ---
: 
: Looks to be our case, as we received program in object code (i386.rpm)
: with an information on where to get source code.

If and only if you aren't doing any modifications to the source at all.


: >From GPLv3:
: ---
: 6. Conveying Non-Source Forms.
: 
: d) Convey the object code by offering access from a designated place
: (gratis or for a charge), and offer equivalent access to the
: Corresponding Source in the same way through the same place at no
: further charge. You need not require recipients to copy the
: Corresponding Source along with the object code. If the place to
: copy the object code is a network server,
: 
: > the Corresponding Source may be on a different server (operated by
: > you or a third party) that supports equivalent copying facilities,
: > provided you maintain clear directions next to the object code
: > saying where to find the Corresponding Source.
: 
: Regardless of what server hosts the Corresponding Source, you remain
: obligated to ensure that it is available for as long as needed to
: satisfy these requirements.
: ---
: 
: This is even more clear.
: 
: Thus, I believe we can comply with GPL just by providing link to source
: download locations of Fedora (through pkg-message I believe).
: 
: > This has no impact on users who use ports to install linux
: > applications.
: 
: It does if user runs tinderbox, I've just stepped into this.
: Also it's inconvenient for maintainers as you need to define
: PACKAGE_BUILDING for make fetch/makesum.
: 
: Also Fedora mirror list may need cleaning:
: 
: => libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm doesn't seem to exist in /tmp/distfiles/rpm/i386/fedora/10.
: => Attempting to fetch from file:///distcache/rpm/i386/fedora/10/.
: fetch: file:///distcache/rpm/i386/fedora/10/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: No such file or directory
: => Attempting to fetch from http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../releases/10/Everything/i386/os/Packages/.
: fetch: http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../releases/10/Everything/i386/os/Packages/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../updates/10/i386/.
: fetch: http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../updates/10/i386/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../releases/10/SRPMS/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../updates/10/SRPMS/.
: fetch: http://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive/fedora/linux/core/../updates/10/SRPMS/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/core/../releases/10/Everything/i386/os/Packages/.
: fetch: http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/core/../releases/10/Everything/i386/os/Packages/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/core/../updates/10/i386/.
: fetch: http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/core/../updates/10/i386/libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm: Not Found
: => Attempting to fetch from http://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/core/../releases/10/Everything/source/SRPMS/.
: libICE-1.0.4-4.fc10.src.rpm                            253 kB   52 kBps
: 
: -- 
: Dmitry Marakasov   .   55B5 0596 FF1E 8D84 5F56  9510 D35A 80DD F9D2 F77D
: amdmi3 at amdmi3.ru  ..:  jabber: amdmi3 at jabber.ru    http://www.amdmi3.ru
: 
: ----- End forwarded message -----
: 
: -- 
: Dmitry Marakasov   .   55B5 0596 FF1E 8D84 5F56  9510 D35A 80DD F9D2 F77D
: amdmi3 at amdmi3.ru  ..:  jabber: amdmi3 at jabber.ru    http://www.amdmi3.ru
: -- 
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