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If I distribute someone else's unmodified GPLv2 software as a part of my product, what obligations do I have regarding source code distribution?
Do I have to host the source independently and provide it on request, or can I simply include the copyright notice from the software in question (which explains how to obtain the source code from the original author) and be done with it?
This is covered in section 3 of the GPL, version 2:
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:
a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
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.)
If you qualify for section 3c, then you can just forward the offer to distribute source code that you yourself received along with the binary you're using. Otherwise you need to take care of distributing the source code yourself (or keeping it available to satisfy users taking up your written offer).
Note that by forwarding users to the original author's copy of the source code, you're tying your ability to distribute your software to the continued availability of that copy. It seems safer to me to just distribute the source code along with the binary and be done with it!
