A little GPL riddle (was: GPL as an evaluation license)

[Aviad Mandel]

On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 1:22 AM, Oleg Goldshmidt <pub at goldshmidt.org> wrote:

>
> Someone gave you, i.e., "conveyed", "distributed", that object code
> whose only purpose is to create the browser when linked to some GPLed
> code. Therefore this object code is derivative work of the GPL code.
> Therefore if it is not GPLed the aforementioned "someone" is in
> violation of GPL. A user of such a browser who wants to have a look at
> or modify the browser will have a petty good case.
>
> Purpose? Where does the GPL say anything about purpose? Besides, I'm
looking for a copyright violation. The object code is owned by whoever
conveys it, so there is no issue here. It doesn't matter if it violates
anything, because the worst thing GPL can do is to revert to good old
copyright.

As for the GPLed part, here's what GPLv3 says:

4. Conveying Verbatim Copies.

You may convey verbatim copies of the Program's source code as you receive
it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately publish
on each copy an appropriate copyright notice; keep intact all notices
stating that this License and any non-permissive terms added in accord with
section 7 apply to the code; keep intact all notices of the absence of any
warranty; and give all recipients a copy of this License along with the
Program.
No copyright violation either.

Bottom line: I still can't see the problem.
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