Hyperion Complete Quake 2 port

[HyperionMP]

Hyperion will ofcourse fully comply with the GPL license and release the source-code of our port to any interested party upon request.

Since the game is not released yet and therefore not distributed yet, we are not yet under any obligation to do so.

Note that offering the source-code for download is NOT sufficient to comply with the GPL.

The only way to comply with the GPL requirement to offer the source to any interested party is to do so on a physical medium.

Feel free to check the GPL FAQ on this point.

[HyperionMP]

Here is the relevant part of the GPL FAQ:

"You're supposed to provide the source code by mail-order on a physical medium, if someone orders it. You are welcome to offer people a way to copy the corresponding source code by FTP, in addition to the mail-order option, but FTP access to the source is not sufficient to satisfy section 3 of the GPL.
When a user orders the source, you have to make sure to get the source to that user. If a particular user can conveniently get the source from you by anonymous FTP, fine--that does the job. But not every user can do such a download. The rest of the users are just as entitled to get the source code from you, which means you must be prepared to send it to them by post.

If the FTP access is convenient enough, perhaps no one will choose to mail-order a copy. If so, you will never have to ship one. But you cannot assume that.

Of course, it's easiest to just send the source with the binary in the first place. "

[HyperionMP]

Actually yes, the GPL is fully complied with if the source-code is only available from Hyperion on a physical medium.

If somebody were to distribute the binary of Quake 2 itself (which they can do as opposed to copying the entire CD which is protected by copyright or the mods which are as well unless also covered by GPL), they must always be able to call on us to get the source even if they obtained their copy from somebody other than us (ie not on a CD).

Obviously the person receiving this source-code has a right to make it available for download.

Note that we opted not to include the source on the CD.

We're not obliged to do so and it doesn't satisfy the requirements of the GPL as other people who didn't get the CD must also be able to get the source.

Again, offering it for download is NOT sufficient to comply with the GPL.

The only way to fully comply with the GPL is to make the source-code available on a physical medium to anyone who requests it, at cost.

(See the GPL FAQ quote above).

I spent considerable time stuyding the GPL license which isn't exactly easy to understand in all its facets, not even for a lawyer.