At this site: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Networking-Overview-HOWTO-2.html
I came across this. Linux has been copyrighted under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). This is a license written by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) that is designed to prevent people from restricting the distribution of software. In brief, it says that although money can be charged for a copy, the person who received the copy can not be prevented from giving it away for free. It also means that the source code must be available. This is useful for programmers. Anybody can modify Linux and even distribute his/her modifications, provided that they keep the code under the same copyright.
Questions a) Does that mean I can buy 1 copy of SuSe/Xandros/RHES/ and distribute it as many times as I want?
b) Some Linux distros have the system of activation keys. Is that in violation of GPL terms? For Instance, if I am required to activate my Distro online then logically the same activation key will NOT work for the copies of the distro? Which therefore prevents me from giving it away for free?
So is the original statement on that site itself interpreted incorrectly or I am reading it out of context?
thanks! abhi
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On 10/05/05 01:53 -0700, Abhishek Daga wrote:
At this site: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Networking-Overview-HOWTO-2.html
I came across this. Linux has been copyrighted under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). This is a license written by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) that is designed to prevent people from restricting the distribution of software. In brief, it says that although money can be charged for a copy, the person who received the copy can not be prevented from giving it away for free. It also means that the source code must be available. This is useful for programmers. Anybody can modify Linux and even distribute his/her modifications, provided that they keep the code under the same copyright.
Questions a) Does that mean I can buy 1 copy of SuSe/Xandros/RHES/ and distribute it as many times as I want?
RHES is distributed under a specific (FSF approved) contract. Ask your lawyer for information on the specifics.
b) Some Linux distros have the system of activation keys. Is that in violation of GPL terms? For Instance, if I am required to activate my Distro online then logically the same activation key will NOT work for the copies of the distro? Which therefore prevents me from giving it away for free?
Again, ask your lawyer for advice.
So is the original statement on that site itself interpreted incorrectly or I am reading it out of context?
This deals with the specifics of copyright and contract laws, and as such, the best person to answer this would be your lawyer.
Devdas Bhagat
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Abhishek Daga -
Devdas Bhagat