"Motiwala, Yusuf Ibrahim (Yusuf)" wrote:
> >The GPL does not require someone to release their software without
> any > fee. It requires that:
> >
> > a) Anyone to whom they give the object code also have a right to
> obtain > source code
>
> Thanks, but I think its almost same thing, once I buy the the software than
> I
> am free to distribute it in whatever manner I like.
It isn't the same thing at all as being required to release the software
without any fee.
> This may be a constraint for some companies.
Sure. Just like any other piece of software, Linux is not for everybody, for
every application. If it doesn't fit, don't use it. By the same token, don't
assume that it *can't* fit just because it is different from what you are used
to, and requires some adjustment to your business model.
> The term reasonable is very vague, may be something reasonable for me
> is not resonable for other. Its a way one manipulate it.
There is a fair amount of experience that says basically that reasonable is
pretty much whatever you say it is, within reason. I don't think anyone has
ever been sued for charging too much. The point of GPL is that the software
have source code available and that it be redistributable. How much it costs
is really not a major concern of GPL. The FSF itself has been selling
distributions at artificially high prices for years as a way of raising money
to support its operatings.
> But is it possible for some companies to offer the GPL protected code as
> it is and separate update/patch which does not fall under GPL. Since the
> supplied patch is not a part of kernel (at the time of distribution) but can
> be
> considered as a separate copyrightable tool which can convert linux to
> RTOS. Is it possible?
Maybe, but it is certainly outside the spirit of the GPL, even if it might be
able to fall within the cracks of the copyright law and the license itself.
Keep in mind that Free Software is a community and a social convention as well
as legal concept, and it doesn't necessarily make sense to do something which
is going to result in ill will (and bad publicity) within the community.
--
To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
with the command "unsubscribe linux-embedded" in the message body.
For more information, see <http://waste.org/mail/linux-embedded>.
