3 ms·

That is in interesting aspect which I didn't fully pick up on. So for example an organisation could build on source code released under GPLv3 and then charge i

That is in interesting aspect which I didn't fully pick up on. So for example an organisation could build on source code released under GPLv3 and then charge it's customers to use it without breaking the licence or releasing it?

Mikeb85 13y ago
Charging to use it would likely constitute distributing it, so I doubt that would fly. Having it on a server backend seems OK though. But what GS did - use it in their own trading system which isn't consumer facing, and is used only by GS is perfectly allowable. And it's even within their rights to prevent the code from being released.
- frobozz 13y ago
  I don't know the GS case at all, and IANAL, but as I understand it, if the modified code is included in a client, then surely the users must be accorded the copyleft rights, even if those users are all GS staff. However, if it is strictly server-based, then those protections wouldn't hold under GPL anyway, only AGPL.
  - Mikeb85 13y ago
    Nope. The organization retains the rights, as long as it stays within the organization. Having multiple users doesn't count as distribution as long as they're all GS employees. In addition, if you pay someone to modify it for you exclusively on your behalf, you also retain the rights and don't have to release the source.
Flimm 13y ago
Yes, as long as you don't distribute it. Using GPL software in your website without sharing your modifications is fine, but selling copies of the software without sharing your modifications is not fine.
frobozz 13y ago
This is what the Affero GPL was designed to combat: From the AGPL preamble: (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html) ... The GNU General Public License permits making a modified version and letting the public access it on a server without ever releasing its source code to the public. The GNU Affero General Public License is designed specifically to ensure that, in such cases, the modified source code becomes available to the community. It requires the operator of a network server to provide the source code of the modified version running there to the users of that server. Therefore, public use of a modified version, on a publicly accessible server, gives the public access to the source code of the modified version.

Mikeb85 13y ago

Charging to use it would likely constitute distributing it, so I doubt that would fly. Having it on a server backend seems OK though. But what GS did - use it in their own trading system which isn't consumer facing, and is used only by GS is perfectly allowable. And it's even within their rights to prevent the code from being released.

frobozz 13y ago
I don't know the GS case at all, and IANAL, but as I understand it, if the modified code is included in a client, then surely the users must be accorded the copyleft rights, even if those users are all GS staff. However, if it is strictly server-based, then those protections wouldn't hold under GPL anyway, only AGPL.
- Mikeb85 13y ago
  Nope. The organization retains the rights, as long as it stays within the organization. Having multiple users doesn't count as distribution as long as they're all GS employees. In addition, if you pay someone to modify it for you exclusively on your behalf, you also retain the rights and don't have to release the source.

Flimm 13y ago

Yes, as long as you don't distribute it. Using GPL software in your website without sharing your modifications is fine, but selling copies of the software without sharing your modifications is not fine.

frobozz 13y ago

This is what the Affero GPL was designed to combat: From the AGPL preamble: (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.html) ... The GNU General Public License permits making a modified version and letting the public access it on a server without ever releasing its source code to the public. The GNU Affero General Public License is designed specifically to ensure that, in such cases, the modified source code becomes available to the community. It requires the operator of a network server to provide the source code of the modified version running there to the users of that server. Therefore, public use of a modified version, on a publicly accessible server, gives the public access to the source code of the modified version.