Release comercial application's sources as GPL but with restr iction in usage

Roddixon roddixon at cyberspaces.org
Tue Feb 15 19:19:00 UTC 2005


To be clear, this is true regarding the release of the initial codebase.  
As modifications of the source code are added to the initial codebase, the 
original copyright holder may find s/he is bound by copyleft in the same 
way as others unless contributors assign (transfer) copyright interests to 
the original copyright holder (when applicable).

As for the initial question, disregarding the practicle realities of the 
marketplace, nothing in the GPL precludes charging fees for distribution 
costs. Nor could the GPL legally preclude one from charging for the 
distribution of a  "modification" for which you (the licensee) own the 
copyright - - in my opinion. 

- Rod
------------
Rod Dixon
www.cyberspaces.org

...... Original Message .......
On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 12:29:20 -0500 David Dillard 
<david.dillard at veritas.com> wrote:
>The owner of the code can make the code available under multiple licenses.
>Thus, the owner is not subject to the "viral nature" of GPL.  After all, 
the
>owner doesn't license the code from himself.
>
>
>--- David
>
> 
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Anderson, Kelly [mailto:KAnderson at dentrix.com] 
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:29 AM
>> To: license-discuss at opensource.org
>> Subject: RE: Release comercial application's sources as GPL 
>> but with restriction in usage
>> 
>> Kevin,
>> 
>> 	First of all, thanks for the pointer. I'm curious 
>> though. If you have a strong copyleft like GPL, how can you 
>> charge for customization when you need to release the 
>> customized code under the GPL due to it's viral nature. It 
>> seems like a difficult way to make a living.
>> 
>> -Kelly
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kevin Bedell [mailto:kbedell at gmail.com] 
>> 
>> Open sourcing code can accelerate your distribution and allow 
>> for reduced marketing costs to get your product established. 
>> However, you'll likely have to plan on making your money on 
>> support of the product or on customizations. You can't charge 
>> a licensing fee for something licensed under the GPL, for example.
>> 
>> Free Software Business list located at http://www.crynwr.com/fsb/
>> 
>> -kevin
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>




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