Comment Re:Here are "Slade"'s words: (Score 1) 772
You do have a right to the source code, under the GPL. This is law. However much like the Constitutional American "Right to Bear Arms". I have the right to deny you access for exercising this right. While you can bear a concealed handgun, you are not allowed to bring it on a public bus, or many places of business. The signs usually say something like 'No firearms beyond this point'. Which is basically making people to give up their Constitutional rights to bear arms. The rules here will be similar.
This does seem like a similar case, but I believe it supports the GPL instead of Slade.
Businesses are private property, and so, by default, you do not have the right to enter without the owner's permission. If you think you do have such a right, just try entering the business outside of business hours. Since you are a guest of the property owner's, they can make rules they expect you to follow while on their propery. They may require you to wear a tie, to not loiter, pay admission, not wield firearms, etc. If you do not follow their rules, they don't have to allow you access to their property.
Software, being under copyright law and thus intellectual property, has similar rules. So in reality, you do not have a god given right to use the source code. You are allowed to use the source code because the copyright holder grants permission for people to use the source code under a set of specific rules. If you do not agree with the rules, then you have no right to use the source.
Slade does have the right to ask people to follow rules before they can use his software. But Carmack has the right to ask Slade to give up his right to ask people to follow additional rules before allowing Slade to use *his* software. (Which is exactly what happened.)
Secion 6 of the GPL: You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.
I'm sorry sir, but if you will not wear a tie (distribute source), we will have to ask you to leave the premises (leave the GPL software alone).
