> The vendor can decide NOT to share the next version with you [because you shared the previous verison].
Sounds a lot like a new restriction on sharing. The threat of future action if you share something under GPL is a restriction on sharing.
If someone is prevented from sharing GPL code because of some kind of contract, license or TOS how is that not a new restriction being placed on the GPL?
It isn't. Giving you a boot disc doesn't obligate me to make future versions available to you.
Red hat wants their fork to be different, I don't see why it should be.
GPL say what rights you have and what Red Hat can sue you for, not what Red Hat need to give you in the future.
You have the right to change and share the sources and Red Hat cannot sue you for that if you choose to do it.
GPL does not say anything about Red Hat giving you access or selling you new versions.
An example, lets say you buy whatever 1.0 under GPL from Red Hat, and they make the sources available.
GPL say that Red Hat cannot sue you for sharing the sources to whatever 1.0, but they will not sell you whatever 2.0 if you do so, and there is nothing in GPL require then to.
The restriction is not on GPL, is in your business relation with Red Hat going forward, and that does not break GPL.