On Thursday 29 June 2006 20:47, you wrote: > On Thu, Jun 29, 2006 at 08:24:02PM +0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > On Thursday 29 June 2006 20:01, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > Hi there...i am new to all things linux/gnu/gpl etc etc.... > > > Can anyone tell me if someone was to use a group of gnu/gpl > > > programs to provide a service for a fee....is this legal > > > under the licensing terms? > > > > The GPL states: > > You can do anything you like with the code > > You cannot restrain anyone else from doing what they like with it > > > > There are additional constraints if you write code: if it's based on > > anybody else's GPL code then you must make sources available too. > > > > Simple, easy, and legally verbose. > > James > > James, as summaries of the GPL go this leaves a lot > to be desired! You left out the most important > word: distribution. The GPL is most often listed > in a file called COPYING for a reason. > > In particular your 2nd last para "There are additional ..." > is quite misleading. Just because you modify GPL > code doesn't mean you have to give away the result. > > To make it otherwise would violate an principle > perhaps even more precious to RMS than sharing, > and that is privacy. > > You are never obliged to tell anyone what you've > done with code unless you _distribute_ the compiled > version.
Matt lots of words make up the GPL. Its brash to try to condense that into a few words, but in terms of an executive summary, this is hard to top. > In particular your 2nd last para "There are additional ..." > is quite misleading. Just because you modify GPL > code doesn't mean you have to give away the result. I modify code and keep it secret Covered by rule a) You can do anything you like with the code, including NOT giving it away! There are subtle libray and other complications, but I've yet to see an eg that is not covered by my summary (And my quick example is misleading: if you modify code and distribute it then there are ...) Oooh and my bitch-of-the-week Try to get src from aver! http://www.aver.com/2005home/support/downloads/faq_dx5300dx5500.shtml http://tigger.ws/ldvr.jpg James -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
