They could also release just application source code and not the spec files for building the package. It's the spec files and the patches that's central in this conflict, not the actual source code, but people keep conflating the two.
Red Hat may release spec files to conform to the requirement that source code includes "scripts used to control compilation and installation of the executable."
Note that this particular requirement got a fair amount of attention in 2011 when Red Hat changed its kernel source releases and stopped breaking out patches. (Here: https://lwn.net/Articles/430098/)
Hard to judge if that covers just makefiles or if it also covers rpms. Guess it makes sense they should share the scripts required to rebuild the binary as it's delivered by them
jzb|2 years ago
Note that this particular requirement got a fair amount of attention in 2011 when Red Hat changed its kernel source releases and stopped breaking out patches. (Here: https://lwn.net/Articles/430098/)
kriberg|2 years ago