how does one go about requesting the source code from a linux project???

[Pallidus]

I'd like to have access to the source code of this project

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/...he-real-world/

[TheLexMachine]

It's not an open-source project. It's a commercial product using Linux, so you can't have access to their source-code.

[Pallidus]

whut what?

how does that work?


I thouht you could charge all you want for your linux project as long you make the source code available



so I can just grab linux and make a proprietary OS and charge for it and that's that

[bridgman]

... so I can just grab linux and make a proprietary OS and charge for it and that's that

No, but you can put your own proprietary apps on top of an unmodified Linux and sell that, or proprietary apps on top of a modified Linux and provide source for the modifications. That is very common in the embedded world, and I don't believe anyone has a problem with that.

Key point (AFAIK, YMMV, IANAL, etc..) is that running an app (which could be a complex real-time system) on Linux using standard system calls is not the same as modifying Linux. If you modify GPL code (whether it be kernel, drivers or utilities etc..) then you do need to make source available when you distribute.

[ChrisXY]

You should be able to get all the source code to the gpl stuff they used - as soon as you get a copy of the binaries.

But their proprietary applications on top probably don't qualify as a derived work. But I'm not a lawyer.

[curaga]

You can ask for the kernel source as soon as you have the rifle. Doesn't seem too cheap

[RealNC]

You can ask for the kernel source as soon as you have the rifle. Doesn't seem too cheap

Actually, you can ask for the source even if you get access to a rifle that you don't actually own. Good luck finding someone who owns one though.