Libranet 2.8 Released

Jon Danzig writes "Hi, Libranet 2.8 has been released and I hope you will inform your readers. Libranet is our implementation of Debian to which we have added our installer, up-to-date software e.g. KDE, Gnome, kernel, etc., and generally packaged GNU/Linux into a super smart fast and stable system. The installer has sophisticated hardware detection and setup with flexable installation of software packages. We keep hearing that the Linux Desktop is on the horizon and while the horizon never gets any closer Libranet is steadily making its way in that direction."

Comments

How is this allowed by the GPL?

[jdreed1024]

I know the subject might sound like flamebait, but really, I'm confused. Debian is released under the GPL, right? (It is GNU/Linux, after all) And, I thought that if you have a product using the GPL (as opposed to the LGPL), anything derived from that project has to be released as GPL? Now, maybe these folks wrote their own installer from scratch, and that's fine, then they don't have to release that. But they talk about integrating and streamlining other GPL'd software. So where is the source? Is this a GPL violation? Or am I just not seeing the clause where it says this is allowed. Certainly they're allowed to charge for support, and they're allowed a nominal distribution charge. However, $39.95 is not what I'd call a distribution charge. Can someone please explain, without flaming, whether this company has or has not violated the GPL, and why?