5 ms·

Just to clarify - it's not illegal to sell GPL'd code, so long as you provide the source with the binary. In fact, this is exactly what happened with Dosbox Tu

by barbs 13y ago

Just to clarify - it's not illegal to sell GPL'd code, so long as you provide the source with the binary. In fact, this is exactly what happened with Dosbox Turbo (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fishstix.dosbox https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fishstix.d...). Dosbox is licensed under GPL, but here it's still being sold on Google Play. The author, fishstix, will send you the source if you've paid for the binary. This is completely legal. https://sites.google.com/site/dosboxturbo/gpl https://sites.google.com/site/dosboxturbo/gpl There were a couple of good discussions on this on SlashDot and VOGONS: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/12/09/1721200/ask-slashdot-where-do-you-draw-the-line-on-gpl-v2-derived-works-and-fees http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/12/09/1721200/ask-slashdot-... http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=34107 http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=34107

ivanca 13y ago
What happens if your software haves 2 binaries that talk to each other and one of them contains the GPL'd code; can I just give the code for that one or do I have to release the source of both?
- barbs 13y ago
  It's a bit of a grey area, but the FAQ states that so long as they're kept separate, and they communicate "at arms length", they should be ok: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySystem https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySy... http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/110380/call-gpl-software-from-non-gpl-software http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/110380/call-g... Disclaimer: IANAL
- belorn 13y ago
  Sooner or later, laws will get interpreted by a judge/jury. You question is equal to asking at what point a work should be considered a derivative work. The answer is sadly quite blurry, and country specific. US law say something like: "A “derivative work” is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as ... abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted." What would a judge say about two separate programs that talk to each other? A lot of people and companies has their opinion about it, but there is not much of case law in existence. All one can say is that the GPL author does not consider IPC level of communication to trigger a derivative work.
AnthonyMouse 13y ago
> Just to clarify - it's not illegal to sell GPL'd code, so long as you provide the source with the binary. This is, however, not much of a business model, because the customers get the code under a license that allows them to redistribute it. Your first customer could buy the binary and then start selling it on Google Play themselves or give it away to everyone. Selling GPL code is pretty much just syntactic sugar over asking for donations.
- barbs 13y ago
  True. It's not illegal, but it's not a particularly good business model!
- davedx 13y ago
  You underestimate the friction there I think. Conversely you could also argue "it's not much of a business model to sell apps on app stores, because Chinese companies will copy and resell your app".
- girvo 13y ago
  In my experience, dealing with GPL software that was sold for $5k+ -- no one ever bothered doing so. And this was a PHP app, so it's not like distribution would be difficult for the would be pirate, nor was there any copy protection. It's just, for those sorts of products, no one ever bothered. I thought it was interesting.
  - lsaferite 13y ago
    Could you really classify someone who has a GPL enforced legal right to distribute your code a 'pirate' though?
    - dllthomas 13y ago
      I'm not sure you can really classify someone who has no right to distribute your code a 'pirate' - real pirates kill people. Your point stands, though, to be sure.

by barbs 13y ago

ivanca 13y ago

What happens if your software haves 2 binaries that talk to each other and one of them contains the GPL'd code; can I just give the code for that one or do I have to release the source of both?

barbs 13y ago
It's a bit of a grey area, but the FAQ states that so long as they're kept separate, and they communicate "at arms length", they should be ok: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySystem https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySy... http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/110380/call-gpl-software-from-non-gpl-software http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/110380/call-g... Disclaimer: IANAL
belorn 13y ago
Sooner or later, laws will get interpreted by a judge/jury. You question is equal to asking at what point a work should be considered a derivative work. The answer is sadly quite blurry, and country specific. US law say something like: "A “derivative work” is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as ... abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted." What would a judge say about two separate programs that talk to each other? A lot of people and companies has their opinion about it, but there is not much of case law in existence. All one can say is that the GPL author does not consider IPC level of communication to trigger a derivative work.

AnthonyMouse 13y ago

> Just to clarify - it's not illegal to sell GPL'd code, so long as you provide the source with the binary. This is, however, not much of a business model, because the customers get the code under a license that allows them to redistribute it. Your first customer could buy the binary and then start selling it on Google Play themselves or give it away to everyone. Selling GPL code is pretty much just syntactic sugar over asking for donations.

barbs 13y ago
True. It's not illegal, but it's not a particularly good business model!
davedx 13y ago
You underestimate the friction there I think. Conversely you could also argue "it's not much of a business model to sell apps on app stores, because Chinese companies will copy and resell your app".
girvo 13y ago
In my experience, dealing with GPL software that was sold for $5k+ -- no one ever bothered doing so. And this was a PHP app, so it's not like distribution would be difficult for the would be pirate, nor was there any copy protection. It's just, for those sorts of products, no one ever bothered. I thought it was interesting.
- lsaferite 13y ago
  Could you really classify someone who has a GPL enforced legal right to distribute your code a 'pirate' though?
  - dllthomas 13y ago
    I'm not sure you can really classify someone who has no right to distribute your code a 'pirate' - real pirates kill people. Your point stands, though, to be sure.