wd wrote:

As far as i understand the gpl license, they are not required to publish the sources, but if they don't they have to make sure that the recipients of the software can acquire the sources easily. Therefore it'd be enough to add some visible reference to the dosbox homepage/download pages, as they seem to use an unmodified build. That's the part that is missing.

No, that is not enough. If they distribute the binary (for commercial purposes) they must also distribute the source by themselves. They can not just rely on some unknowingly 3rd party to do it for them. Now, if they had an a deal with SourceForge, a deal that included the availability of *all* the versions they distribute (currently only 0.70) for 3-5 years(? - I don't remember the time period) - then it would a different thing.

The gpl v3 $$ 6d) was what i meant, assuming that v3 is more restricted
than v2 as they are intentionally compatible. But no idea, could be wrong then as well.

Read section 3c of GPLv2 (listed in this thread). Written offer for the source must be valid for 3 years btw.

Right, 3c) doesn't apply because it only affects non-commercial distributions.
3b) has "a medium customarily used for software interchange"
which seems to be formulated more clearly in the v3 license.

And a written offer valid for three years would just be putting in
a link to the sf page (the offer is valid for three years then, dunno).

wd wrote:

Right, 3c) doesn't apply because it only affects non-commercial distributions. 3b) has "a medium customarily used for software i […]
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Right, 3c) doesn't apply because it only affects non-commercial distributions.
3b) has "a medium customarily used for software interchange"
which seems to be formulated more clearly in the v3 license.

And a written offer valid for three years would just be putting in
a link to the sf page (the offer is valid for three years then, dunno).

I am no lawyer, and wd is one hell of coder, so take all the GPL talk with a big pinch of salt. However ....

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl- … angedJustBinary […]
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http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl- … angedJustBinary

Can I put the binaries on my Internet server and put the source on a different Internet site?

The GPL says you must offer access to copy the source code "from the same place"; that is, next to the binaries. However, if you make arrangements with another site to keep the necessary source code available, and put a link or cross-reference to the source code next to the binaries, we think that qualifies as "from the same place".

Note, however, that it is not enough to find some site that happens to have the appropriate source code today, and tell people to look there. Tomorrow that site may have deleted that source code, or simply replaced it with a newer version of the same program. Then you would no longer be complying with the GPL requirements. To make a reasonable effort to comply, you need to make a positive arrangement with the other site, and thus ensure that the source will be available there for as long as you keep the binaries available.

Ok that seems to clarify it. Thanks!