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They can absolutely do this. It would not be useful, but they certainly can. The FSF itself used to sell copies of the GNU operating system for a fee. The prob
by klez 7y ago
They can absolutely do this. It would not be useful, but they certainly can. The FSF itself used to sell copies of the GNU operating system for a fee.
The problem with the license is just that when it's out there (i.e., one person paid for it) it's out there for everyone else if the paying person decides to release it for free for everybody else.
- lucb1e 7y agoOf course, they can refuse to sell to the person leaking it, denying them access unless there is another mole. I heard this is how GRSecurity works, which makes a hardened Linux kernel. Also, the bulk of StackOverflow's data is creative commons. A similar argument goes here as for the Linux kernel.
- andreareina 7y agoBruce Perens argues[1] (HN comments[2]) that a penalty for exercising the right to redistribute is de facto a restriction on redistribution, which the GPL prohibits. [1] https://perens.com/2017/06/28/warning-grsecurity-potential-contributory-infringement-risk-for-customers/ https://perens.com/2017/06/28/warning-grsecurity-potential-c... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14731955 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14731955
- lucb1e 7y agoInteresting, I did not know that anyone opposed this on legal grounds. Thanks for sharing!