Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 18:36:20 +0100 (CET) From: Gerhard Sittig <Gerhard.Sittig@gmx.net> Cc: freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Very Common Question Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.02.9902211808280.17721-100000@speedy.gsinet> In-Reply-To: <Pine.A41.4.05.9902202227420.54396-100000@goodall2.u.washington.edu>
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On Sat, 20 Feb 1999, K. Marsh wrote:
>
> [ ... discussion on GPL vs BSD license ... ]
>
> The point I was trying to make was that you can't sell your software for
> profit, UNLESS you distribute the source code too (thereby giving away
> the secrets of your program.) This is right, isn't it Christ? FreeBSD's
> license doesn't require you to give away your source.
I feel this is too strong a view and it might not be correct
since then NOONE would offer any software for these systems
when he wants to make his living from it. The only thing
one could "sell" would be service and consulting. But there
IS comercial software around for Linux -- think of Applix,
WordPerfect, Mathematica, StarOffice, Adabas, Sniff, Oracle,
Netscape, ... (easily continued)
I guess the main point is that when you use GPLed software
as the basis (or core) of your product, then the product
should be GPLed, too. And I think it's fair. None of the
GPL authors ever stated "there should never be any software
for Linux that's not free". To scream while replying to you
I guess it should read:
You CAN sell YOUR software for profit WITHOUT distributing
the source code too, but once you use other people's work
AND they stated "this should always be free" you're NOT
allowed to sell modifications and cover or hide the result.
Of course you may build your own internal tools based on GPLed
software (anyone is free not to release his additions :), but
you might not sell those modifications and thereby betraying
the original contributors.
But after all IANAL and anyone being really interested could
read the GPL itself, it's shipped with many software packages
and I'm sure it is on FSF's website, too. Please keep in mind
that English is not my natural language and that all the typos
and errors in this message are mine. I just speak for myself
and that's enough trouble ... :>
Gerhard Sittig
--
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