Yes, but it changes the strategy for getting them to rectify the error. Rather than asking for source code directly, you should be asking for help getting in touch with the developer who has it.
I'm not sure what you're angling for with your anti-GPL comments in this thread, but all software licenses have requirements that are burdensome to one degree or another.
Frankly, the paperwork required to keep track of installed instances of -say- volume licensed MSFT software is a fair bit more burdensome than procedures to handle source code requests for GPL'd code.
Hell, you can automate both processes, but -in places that are like the dev shops that I've worked in- you're far more likely to automate the GPL compliance procedure. :)
Mostly just thinking out loud (congratulations, you're a rubber duck).
I think I heard something a while back, about Microsoft changing how they did volume licensing. Because it really was too much of a PITA, and they wanted to simplify things.
I suppose one different would be what's required to get back into compliance one you inevitably stuff things up. In the one case, you have to probably pay (money is fungible) and/or remove things you have installed. In the other case, you have to find something you might not know where it is (if it even still exists) and provide it to the public (and be sure that doesn't violate an other licenses you have). ...I think I might be moving the goal posts a bit here, but that's what you get for being a rubber duck. ;)
If you follow what's generally considered good development practices (automated builds, everything in version control, etc), GPL compliance should be dead simple. So congrats, it sounds like you work for people who don't have their heads up their asses.
...hey, maybe that would be a good basis if we ever did turn into a proper profession: version tracking and automated builds.
People screw up all sorts of compliance issues. All but a tiny handful of software licenses out there can be violated by sloppy practices or mistakes of one kind or another. The GPL is not unique in this regard.
You should try your attempts to paint a different picture in another forum: all but the greenest programmer has far too much experience to be convinced by your argument.
