>>50
A writes a program, and distributes it only in source form under the GPL.
B gets the source from A, compiles it, and deletes the source code.
A deletes the source code.
B and C have identical hardware and run the same operating system.
C wants a copy of the program, and doesn't care whether it's in source or binary form, as long as he can run it.
there is no legal way for C to obtain a copy of the program.
The absence of rules does not make everybody free. All it does is make power available to the strongest. The strongest inevitably uses that power to usurp freedom from the weak.
except that Microsoft/IBM/Sun/Torvalds/whoever can't legally break into your house and remove code from your hard drive, no matter how liberally it's licensed. with BSD-licensed code, they can't take away your right to use, modify, and distribute the code either.
however, if you don't have the source code, they can take away your right to distribute GPL-licensed binaries that you compiled from source. they can't do that with BSD-licensed binaries.