On Tue, 2009-08-04 at 21:46 +0200, Arnold Krille wrote: > Hi, > > On Tuesday 04 August 2009 21:23:20 Sampo Savolainen wrote: > > I can modify a piece of GPL'd code to my hearts content, link it to my > > proprietary code, use it for years, all without violating the GPL. A > > violation would be if I distribute the combination as proprietary (non > > GPL) software. > > Comments? > > As far as I know this is right. Because GPL is a license (thats what the L > stands for:), not an end-user agreement. All the GPL talks about is > (re-)publishing. So as long as you do not re-distribute your app (outside > your > home/business) no one knows and cares. > > And I always wonder how Trolltech would enforce people to not use the GPL- > version to start development and only buy a commercial license shortly before > publishing ones own app for money. They actually can't because the sources of > your app (should) not leave your home/business before that, so they wouldn't > know...
There's also another aspect. Company A might sell a GPL license for their software X to company B. They might want to do this as X uses or is based on GPL'd code. This means X needs to be licensed under the GPL. A is not obliged to distribute X to anyone but B and B might not want to redistribute X. B is naturally entitled to the source code of X as per GPL. I'm expecting this happens all the time. This should happen when B orders a bespoke software from A and A happens to use GPL software in the product. As far as I understand the GPL, it does not obligate A or B to release X to anyone else. Sampo _______________________________________________ Linux-audio-dev mailing list [email protected] http://lists.linuxaudio.org/mailman/listinfo/linux-audio-dev
