Re: Distributing GPL software.
Michael Poole wrote:
As GPL section 3(c) indicates, you may use that option if you were
given a written offer to provide source *and* your distribution is
"noncommercial". You have given no hint whether your distribution
could be considered commercial, and the GPL is unfortunately vague
as to what it means by "noncommercial distribution".
These CDs are for the SCALE conference (Sourthern California Linux
Expo). I was thinking of selling the CDs at like $1 to recover the cost.
I guess that constitutes "commercial" use :(
If by "written permission" the GPL means "paper", then I certainly don't
have that :( If written can be "electronic" I'll check the distribution
to see if it has that.
The catch is that when you download a GPLed executable, you usually
have "equivalent access to copy the source code from the same place",
which satisifes section 3(a) but is not a written offer under 3(b).
:(
Does that mean that all the people selling Knoppix CDs for $2 are
breaking the law?
It may be that OpenOffice's copyright holders think noncommercial
distribution is fine if it includes a link to the source code but no
source code, but as far as I can tell, it is not specifically allowed
by the GPL.
I'm sure that they are ok with it, since the distribution project
actually makes an ISO available for people to download and distribute.
And they encourage selling. But I'd still like to comply with the GPL.
Thanks for the help.
Cheers,
Daniel.
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