Microsoft – 'send a check or money order for $5.00'

I mean, it's right there in the license, that this is an option:

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html , section 6b [similar sections exist in previous versions]

-----

6. Conveying Non-Source Forms.

You may convey a covered work in object code form under the terms of sections 4 and 5, provided that you also convey the machine-readable Corresponding Source under the terms of this License, in one of these ways:

b) Convey the object code in, or embodied in, a physical product (including a physical distribution medium), accompanied by a written offer, valid for at least three years and valid for as long as you offer spare parts or customer support for that product model, to give anyone who possesses the object code either (1) a copy of the Corresponding Source for all the software in the product that is covered by this License, on a durable physical medium customarily used for software interchange, for a price no more than your reasonable cost of physically performing this conveying of source, or (2) access to copy the Corresponding Source from a network server at no charge.

-----

It likely costs Microsoft more than $5.00 to deal with processing the checks but it's there as a way to keep from ending up the victim of a by-mail DDOS attack where they get hundreds of thousands of requests from activists upset by something Microsoft has done. When you're a company of that size, there's always someone angry with you (often for legitimate reasons).

Sky, A large ISP & Pay TV service in the UK, does the same if you ask for a CD copy of the source, however they ask for a donation to a charity instead of paying them directly. I forget which one - their open source site is currently down - https://www1.sky.com/opensourcesoftware/ - but the site also offers the same source for free via download (atleast when the site is live)

EDIT: Checked with Google Cache: - https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:u4jhnI...

> Request a CD via mail At Sky we’re committed to reducing our impact on the environment and so this year we have set ourselves new challenging targets. Our environment strategy drives operational improvements, is integral to our product development process, inspires actions by Sky people and customers. Keeping the environment at the centre of the Sky philosoply, we would request that a donation is made to the Woodland Trust before we can send off your CD.

> Please send a copy of the donation receipt and a note of where the CD is to be sent to - (blahhh)

However the same requirement is not on their most recent product Sky Glass - https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4LSbks...

This was in the NOTICE file accompanying AzCopy and Bing(!) found it elsewhere. I get the necessary licensing information, but would anyone at Microsoft know what to do with a physical check for $5.00?

I kindof want to try it just to see what happens.

>>Microsoft makes certain open source code available at https://3rdpartysource.microsoft.com , or you may send a check or money order for US $5.00, including the product name, the open source component name, and version number, to:

Back in 2006, when I was racking and stacking servers in datacenters, I was on Sun Microsystems website looking for parts.

I noticed they had "X311L", which is (was) a standard North American power cord, listed for >>$0<< with NO shipping fee. No way these are "free" and I have BOXES of power cables already... buuut, dripping in curiosity, I ordered 10 cables. A week later, a neatly packed box of 10 power cords showed up at my house!

What an innovative business model! :D