To a large degree, these things are covered by existing product
liability laws, and contract laws. In practice, most companies would do
a brief check (make a few phone calls, maybe) then not worry about it
unless problems cropped up.
Also, unless I've completely mis-read the GPL, when I offer such a
service, I become liable for fulfilling it. [The company which provides
the source needs to announce that that's how the source code becomes
available, but unless there's something very fradulent going on their
responsibility ends there.]
> It is entirely possible that the transaction costs involved with
> outsourcing their obligation are higher than the cost of satisfying it
> internally.
As the bulk of the transaction cost is the cost to make a decision,
what you're really saying (now) is that in some companies it's
too expensive to make decisions.
> Nothing comes free.
As do many other things...
-- Raul