Cole Frank Contr AFRL/IFGC
2003-10-03 18:41:18 UTC
Hi Todd,
As I understand it:
Software:
Selling a device loaded with GPL'ed software is fine as long as you
at least provide links to the
Software that you use. You also have to provide patches that you've made to
those packages, but only on request. How you provide the patches is totally
up to you. I've requested patches and received them as print outs before
(you know who you are). You also cant charge for the GPL'ed code.
Any software source that YOU have made doesn't have to be released
at all because it is your proprietary software even if it is built on GPL'ed
libraries. In other words you can charge for it. This includes apps as
well as build scripts and the like. GPL'ed libraries have a separate
license that allows this as long as you don't change the libs which then you
have to provide only those patches to the libs. You also have to provide
pointers to the libs you use.
BSD and artistic licenses you can pretty much do what you want with
as long as you mentioned that you used the package.
In either case you have to mention the fact somewhere in plain view
that you used GPL'ed code and which package it came from.
Hardware:
There are GPL'ed hardware platforms as well which have a similar
spirit of the GPL software and lib licenses. For commercial or
semi-commercial devices, you generally need some sort of OEM
rights/permissions from the manufacturer before slapping your logo all over
it. It really depends on who makes your hardware.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT:
Basically just give credit where credit is due and contribute back
to the community and most folks wont give you a hassle.
If you still have questions you might try checking out the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org) and the Free Software
Foundation (www.fsf.org). The FSF basically is the GNU in GNU Public
License (GPL). They eat this kind of stuff for breakfast.
Yes I know this is a long winded response and I apologize for
venting on your question but I thought it needed to be shared.
Frank Cole
// Wireless Information Assurance Laboratory //
// Air Force Research Lab/Rome Research Site //
// COM: (315) 330-3686 DSN: 587-3686 //
CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search
http://corp.mail.com/careers
As I understand it:
Software:
Selling a device loaded with GPL'ed software is fine as long as you
at least provide links to the
Software that you use. You also have to provide patches that you've made to
those packages, but only on request. How you provide the patches is totally
up to you. I've requested patches and received them as print outs before
(you know who you are). You also cant charge for the GPL'ed code.
Any software source that YOU have made doesn't have to be released
at all because it is your proprietary software even if it is built on GPL'ed
libraries. In other words you can charge for it. This includes apps as
well as build scripts and the like. GPL'ed libraries have a separate
license that allows this as long as you don't change the libs which then you
have to provide only those patches to the libs. You also have to provide
pointers to the libs you use.
BSD and artistic licenses you can pretty much do what you want with
as long as you mentioned that you used the package.
In either case you have to mention the fact somewhere in plain view
that you used GPL'ed code and which package it came from.
Hardware:
There are GPL'ed hardware platforms as well which have a similar
spirit of the GPL software and lib licenses. For commercial or
semi-commercial devices, you generally need some sort of OEM
rights/permissions from the manufacturer before slapping your logo all over
it. It really depends on who makes your hardware.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT:
Basically just give credit where credit is due and contribute back
to the community and most folks wont give you a hassle.
If you still have questions you might try checking out the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org) and the Free Software
Foundation (www.fsf.org). The FSF basically is the GNU in GNU Public
License (GPL). They eat this kind of stuff for breakfast.
Yes I know this is a long winded response and I apologize for
venting on your question but I thought it needed to be shared.
Frank Cole
// Wireless Information Assurance Laboratory //
// Air Force Research Lab/Rome Research Site //
// COM: (315) 330-3686 DSN: 587-3686 //
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 12:26 PM
Subject: [LinuxAP-dev] Re: Selling APs flashed with LinuxAP
As people pointed out there is not an issue with selling
hardware loaded with GPL'd software. My question was really,
is it legal to flash the hardware with LinuxAP and then
rebadge someone else's hardware with my own brand name and sell it?
Thanks,
Todd
--
__________________________________________________________
Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com
http://www.mail.com/?sr=signupSent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 12:26 PM
Subject: [LinuxAP-dev] Re: Selling APs flashed with LinuxAP
As people pointed out there is not an issue with selling
hardware loaded with GPL'd software. My question was really,
is it legal to flash the hardware with LinuxAP and then
rebadge someone else's hardware with my own brand name and sell it?
Thanks,
Todd
--
__________________________________________________________
Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com
CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search
http://corp.mail.com/careers