Re: Free Software Clarification
I wrote:
> A friend is considering releasing a useful package, but wants to keep
> exclusive rights eventual commercial distribution. He doesn't want someone
> to take the code, modify it, and then sell the result. He has no problems
> with distribution fees associated with packaging a group of software on CD.
> This is okay with DFSG, right?
"Greg Vence" wrote:
> The only potential problem I'd see is in his intent to keep rights to
> 'eventual commercial distribution.' It seems we're going through
> something quite similar with X.
Yes, but that's allowed. Isn't it?
His intent is not to sell it, but wouldn't want someone else to make a
bundle on his back.
> The rest of what you described follows the GPL quite well. The only
> chage is here when GPL would say that there can _never_ be a commercial
> release of this code.
But the license doesn't apply to the copyright holder. He would be allowed
to sell a future (probably enhanced) version, but could not withdraw the
original GPL version from circulation. Thus the users are `protected'
in the sense that the free version will also be free.
Am I correct?
--
Peter Galbraith, research scientist <GalbraithP@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>
Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
P.O. Box 1000, Mont-Joli Qc, G5H 3Z4 Canada. 418-775-0852 FAX: 775-0546
6623'rd Linux user at the Linux Counter -- http://counter.li.org/
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