> Quickly removing the code doesn't change the previously released versions' license.
But would $BIG_CORP publish source on request for a proprietary product just because they built one version with a GPL library by mistake and later fixed it? Has this been successful, ever?
Depends on the composition of CORP. If it is comprised of developers with strong respect for OSS or FS community they might not stand for non-disclosure. OTOH, plenty of orgs would be mainly folks without a strong opinion either way and would just follow executive direction.
But would $BIG_CORP publish source on request for a proprietary product just because they built one version with a GPL library by mistake and later fixed it? Has this been successful, ever?