On 2001.11.02, Jerry Asher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Would someone sum up the legality of a party, not AOL, creating,
> distributing, and selling, a proprietary AOLserver module?
[...]
> I don't know who the end client is, and so I don't know if they intend to
> sell the software, or just services based on their own internal
> application. I do know they would want to own the module that implements
> the core piece of their service, and I suspect they really don't want to
> own anything but that. It is conceivable they would be happy to link to or
> mirror the AOLserver distribution while selling the nsglue module.
IANAL, but, upon examining Section 3.2, my understanding is:
If you don't modify the AOLserver core ("Covered Code") and
you don't distribute source or executable of AOLserver itself,
then you're free to do what you please with your AOLserver
module.
If you don't modify the AOLserver core, but you do distribute
it in executable form, you must either include the source code
with the executable OR make the source available "via an Electronic
Distribution Mechanism". You can still do what you please with
your AOLserver module.
If you DO modify the AOLserver core, your changes MUST be
available in source code form. Same rules apply for distributing
the core as an executable.
In the end, as long as your module is not a derivative work of
the "Covered Code", then it's considered your own work and you
can license it as you please. If it is derivative work of
"Covered Code" then it's considered a "Modification" which must
be available in source code form.
Section 3.7 specifically speaks to "Larger Works" where "You may
create a Larger Work by combining Covered Code with other code
not governed by the terms of this License and distribute the
Larger Work as a single product."
Basically, you can avoid a lot of problems if your code
is an original work and requires no modification to AOLserver
source itself.
-- Dossy
--
Dossy Shiobara mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Panoptic Computer Network web: http://www.panoptic.com/
"He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)
