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Re: Question



Cameron writes:
> You can charge them any fee they'll pay for doing them the service of
> copying and installing the software.

Let's be clear about this.  You can charge whatever the market will bear
for supplying them with copies of the software.  You have no obligation
install it or support it, though you are unlikely to make any money unless
you do either or both.  You cannot, of course, add any restrictions.

> You are not allowed to charge any money for the software itself at all.

You can charge whatever you like for copies of the software.

> It is not yours to sell.

The copyrights in the software belong to whoever owns them (usually the
authors).  Copies of the software belong to whoever made them.

> The software itself is free, and everyone is free to download it and
> figure it out on her own.

Nothing in the GPL or in any other DFSG-compliant license requires that
software licensed under it be made available free of charge.  Free as in
speech, not as in beer.

> You must tell your customer those terms.

For GPL software you must comply with the terms of the GPL, which includes
providing your customers with copies of the GPL.  Other licenses have other
(usually less strict) terms.

> If she resells it, she has to tell her customers.

She also must comply with the terms of the GPL.

Note that much of the software included in Debian is licensed under terms
other than those of the GPL.  However, all of the licenses are such that in
complying with the terms of the GPL you will also be complying with them.

Copies of all the licenses are included with Debian.  Just supply CDs or
DVDs containing the entire distribution including source and you will be in
full compliance with all the licenses.
-- 
John Hasler



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