[nycbug-talk] wasabi

[pete wright]

On 1/23/06, Marco Scoffier <marco at metm.org> wrote:
> On Mon, Jan 23, 2006 at 09:07:00AM -0800, pete wright wrote:
> >since we are throwing links around today:
> >
> >http://www.wasabisystems.com/gpl/index.html
> >
> >probably one of the best written explanations regarding GPL's impact
> >from a business perspective IMO.
> >
>
> "[GPL] requires that any source code that is changed also be released
> free of charge"
>
> I believe that the "free of charge" is completely misleading.  You can
> charge as much as you want, for the software and its source code
> together.  You are just required to give your customers the source, so
> that they are not stuck with an unmaintainable product when your company
> dies.  That is the deal, you are not required to give your code to
> everyone in the universe free of charge.

sure, that may be misleading, but it states in the GLPv2:
(cap's not mine, sorry not trying to yell ;)
11. BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

i guess one might infer from this that it code has to re-distributed
free of charge from this statement...


It also states:
(section 2, clause b)

    b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
    whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any
    part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
    parties under the terms of this License.

in any event...i never really understood the legalize of the GPL so i
am definatly not trying to make definitive statements...more
interpratations of how I understand it is being used and
enforced....i'll let the courts figure that bit out and hope for the
best ;)

>
> from the second page:
> "donate the code you paid to create to anyone who wants it"
>
> This is also wrong.  You just need to make the source code available to
> those who recieve the product.  If you give your product to everyone you
> give the code to everyone.  If you sell for $1Million to a single client
> you are required to give that one client the source.
>
> I get a little impatient with the way people demonize the GPL by
> twisting words around.  Quite frankly I don't give a damn if someone
> uses some BSD-licensed code only to sell me a proprietary product, for
> all I know they have broken it, and I'll be stuck with a lemon I can't
> fix.
>
> If you think I am mistaken please correct without flaming thank you.
>
> --
> Marco
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--
~~o0OO0o~~
Pete Wright
www.nycbug.org
NYC's *BSD User Group