Re: [OT] open source distribution
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On Wed, Aug 27, 2003 at 11:42:49AM -0400, Emma Jane Hogbin wrote:
> Hopefully a (quick) question...if I make a product which is open source I
> don't have to *distribute* the product, do I?
Assuming the GPL, no; you can fail to distribute it. It doesn't do
you any harm. You have the right to, not the obligation. The only
obligation is that, should you decide to release, you have to use the
GPL. This is to prevent non-free forks off the same codebase.
> Background: a potential client may or may not understand the benefits of
> open source work. If I make something for them which is licensed under
> GFL and uses other products, which I have written and are under the same
> license, is there any obligation on my part (or the client's part) to
> distribute the software? i.e. can something be open source but not
> available (for lack of a better term).
Nope. No obligation whatsoever.
However, they are encouraged to get involved and volunteer for the
projects they use. Think of it sort of like PBS crossed with Habitat
for Humanity. If you want to keep free software going, contribute
some brain grease any way you can. The regulars on the list are here
to make their contribution.
- --
.''`. Paul Johnson <baloo@ursine.ca>
: :' :
`. `'` proud Debian admin and user
`- Debian - when you have better things to do than fix a system
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