Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:48:38 +0000 (GMT) From: Richard Tobin <richard@inf.ed.ac.uk> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Free BSD Licensing Message-ID: <20100324104838.EE89D80697E@macpro.inf.ed.ac.uk> In-Reply-To: Matthew Seaman's message of Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:41:13 %2B0000
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> As the FreeBSD license is less restrictive than the GPL, it's pretty > much safe to say that wherever you are permitted install GPL'd software, > you could substitute FreeBSD licensed software without legal penalty. > (Note: *install* -- redistribution is a different matter) You do not have to agree to the GPL to use GPL'd software: it explicitly says that it only covers "copying, distribution and modification" and not "running the program". The FreeBSD licence on the other hand only allows you to use the software if you agree to the conditions - which only affect redistribution, so if you do not redistribute it, the licence terms do not affect you. I suppose a theoretical difference is that if you redistribute FreeBSD in violation of the conditions you no longer have the right to use it, which is not true for the GPL. -- Richard -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
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