Re: Commercial Use and Source Code

Hi,

Thank you for the response. I just wanted some clarification. Under the Debian license, I do not have to release source code as long as I am writing my source code on top of the existing system correct? As in, I am writing C/C++ code and running it on a Debian OS, which will be on my product that is going to be sold commercially. It is my understanding that under these conditions, I do not need to make my source code public.

Thanks,

Aron

On Fri, Jul 19, 2019 at 1:46 PM Jean-Philippe MENGUAL <jpmengual@debian.org> wrote:

Hi,

The first thing I think is tat you do not have to publish your code.
Free software requests you to let the user free with your source, not
you to work publicly. A code may be free if you give the user the source
and all the freedoms.

About your project, it depends on what programs you use. If you use free
software, you are under their license (GPL or other). According to some
licenses, you have to share your changes with the author when you re-use
a free program, others do not say this.

If you just add code in Debian, I think you are free. Just do not make
inacessible some source under a free license.

Regards

Jean-Philippe MENGUAL
Le 19/07/2019 à 18:37, Aron Reman a écrit :
> Hi Debian Legal,
>
> I am developing an embedded system for a commercial application that is
> running a Debian based OS. I am developing C/C++ code that is running in
> the user space and am wondering, am I able to distribute my system
> without giving up my source code? At what point do I need to make my
> source code public?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Aron