HP-41 modules and GPL

[hth]

(04-08-2018 08:07 PM)pier4r Wrote:  Just throwing ideas around.

If a module is GPL, it shouldn't collide with the board, as the board can work without the module. Is that correct?

If a module is GPL, and one requests the source. One can gladly say "look I don't have them but I will try to forward the request". If the original author is not reachable to get the sources, that's it. Or not? I don't know if the middleman has the duty to provide sources he himself did not get. Does anyone with more experience know?

According to the recent -heated- discussions problems arise when something makes use of GPLed solutions and cannot work without them.

Those modules seems independent (I do not have a 41CL so I do not know) and a problem could be the absence of sources, that may have been not provided to begin with.

In other words. If I use a work from the past to not let it disappear. Should I honor the license forever, although the situation doesn't allow me to comply? In this case I mean: unreachable authors to ask them for the source.

I am not sure whether the GPL prohibits commercial returns, I think not though.

It does not collide with the board at all. However, it is distributed with GPL software and if one follows the license, the receiver of the product should be notified.

Commercial returns are perfectly legal under GPL.

The issue is that we need to keep track of the source code and anyone who distributes the software may need to spend time on this. If we have a few central places for this, then I suppose we can always point to them and all would be nice and easy.

Collecting the source and ensuring it is available would be a good outcome.

Håkan