Joe Shevland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> But any modifications/enhancements they make to the jBoss source
> code *must* be made available to the jBoss community under the GPL,
> is that correct?
I'm afraid it's probably much more complex than just that.
While ejip.net's use of jboss software may be perfectly legal,
their use of Sun's software almost certainly isn't.
The license agreement you click when you download both the
EJB 1.1 (J2EE 1.2) and the JDMK (JMX) libraries both clearly
state the software is only licensed for
<quote> internal evaluation purposes only </quote>.
This obviously would appear to exclude two very important things:
(1) redistribution of the libraries, and
(2) any production or commercial use.
IMHO, jboss is almost certainly breaking these license agreements
by making these Sun libraries available through CVS,
although that's something for Sun's license police to sort out.
[The Enhydra/Jonas team have already stopped distributing the EJB 1.1
library themselves, after consulting their legal team I believe.]
Also it is my understanding [as a developer reading the download
license, not as a lawyer, so all the normal E&OE disclaimers apply]
that ejip.net (as well as Telkel probably) would also be in breach
of these licenses by using the Sun libraries for any commercial
purposes (such as providing ASP services) unless they either became
a J2EE licensee themselves or they were using a product from
one of the current commercial J2EE licensees.
Unfortunately, as Rickard pointed out a few months back,
open source companies cannot become J2EE licensees.
I would suggest the Telkel guys need to seek some more legal advice (as
well as the ejip.net crowd, who I am sure are listening), as this is a
very tricky area legally.
Just to put my cards clearly on the table, I now work for Orbware
- one of the 18 commercial J2EE licensees, and the first licensee
in the U.K. The above licensing situation was one of the primary
factors that influenced Orbware's decision to become a J2EE licensee
-- we are committed to making EJB technology more widely available
where it had previously been excluded on price grounds, but we say
no way to do that through an Open Source initiative.
My intention with this note is not to side-track the jboss effort in
any way, but I think people need to understand the legal backdrop to
the situation as it is rather complex. Read the licenses and consult
your lawyers for the details.
Software development may well be war, but most of the battles
these days are unfortunately fought and won in the court room!
I wish you guys luck in your journey through this legal minefield.
Best Regards,
- Jorgen
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