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If the code is never put into a public project I don't see how this would have any effect. I'm not required to abide by every license on everything I slap toget
by pbnjay 13y ago
If the code is never put into a public project I don't see how this would have any effect. I'm not required to abide by every license on everything I slap together on my laptop, it's when I distribute it or allow others (outside my organization) to use it that matters.
- steveklabnik 13y agoIt depends on what kind of license it is: if it's an end-user license, then yes, you do (in theory) have to abide by it. You're right that if it's just a copyright on the source code, then it's probably a restriction on redistribution, which means you couldn't _use_ that code for evil and then share it with others. But using it for evil for yourself: totally fine.
- pbnjay 13y agoFor an end-user license, sure. But even so the license restrictions only apply to the _recipients_. So if I'm the NSA and use GPL code, and only distribute it to NSA colleagues, I only have to provide my NSA colleagues with the license and code. (IANAL, but seems pretty clear to me on this)
- tjaerv 13y agoThe notion that the NSA would deem it worth their while to go out of their way to honor GPL legalese seems not a little …optimistic.