From: Robert Dewar <dewar@gnat.com>
Subject: Re: [O/T 4 cla] Re: GPL and "free" software
Date: 1999/05/06
Date: 1999-05-06T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <7gqmua$j5s$1@nnrp1.deja.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: x6yaj4k3y2.fsf@no-such-thing-as-a.free-lunch.demon.co.uk
In article <x6yaj4k3y2.fsf@no-such-thing-as-a.free-lunch.demon.co.uk>,
James Youngman <james@no-such-thing-as-a.free-lunch.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> You are
> allowed to *use* but not *copy* GPLed software without taking on even
> a single one of the obligations mentioned in the GPL.
>
The GPL *never* obliges anyone to do anything. It merely sets forth
a set of conditions under which you have a license to copy a
copyrighted work. You meet these conditions, and you may make
and distribute copies, but the GPL never obliges you to make or
distribute copies.
It also does not forbid anything. For example, suppose you want
to include a GPL'ed program in your proprietary licensed work.
Well you need the copyright holder's permission to do it. You
have the GPL, but that does not license this particular usage.
It doesn't forbid it, it just does not permit it, there is a big
difference. It is the copyright that forbids the use you have in
mind unless you get an appropriate license.
There is of course legally nothing to stop you asking for permission,
and nothing to stop the copyright holder from granting it.
Suppose you wanted to put together a compiler using XYZ's proprietary
front end and the gcc backend. Well to distribute this derived work,
you need the permission of the Free Software Foundation. Very probably
they will refuse, as is their right as the copyright holder. But they
could give you special permission, and then you could distribute your
hybrid program as a proprietary program without violating the GPL, it
is just that you would not be relying on the GPL for your right to
distribute.
In fact this is far from a theoretical situation, it is quite fine
legally for someone to distribute GPL'ed software for price $x,
possibly $0, and charge you a bundle for a separate license that
allows you to use the same software in a proprietary context. Indeed
it is my understanding (and I apologize in advance if this is an
incorrect understanding) that Cygwin is distributed under EXACTLY
this split model.
One may argue over whether such a distribution model is a good idea
(at ACT we prefer a completely clean situation with no such dual
licensing, which is why we use the modified GPL for runtime stuff),
but it is absolutely 100% consistent with the GPL. Indeed I have
heard people argue that it is appropriate, because it gives full
access to those writing free software, and penalizes those writing
proprietary software, which to some people seems an appropriate
situation :-)
Robert Dewar
Ada Core Technologies
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next prev parent reply other threads:[~1999-05-06 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 162+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
1999-04-20 0:00 air traffic control software Terry J. Westley
1999-04-21 0:00 ` Kevin Rigotti
1999-04-21 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-21 0:00 ` GPL and "free" software (was: air traffic control software) Terry J. Westley
1999-04-21 0:00 ` bill
1999-04-23 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-23 0:00 ` Larry Kilgallen
1999-04-23 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-23 0:00 ` Tom Moran
1999-04-24 0:00 ` Florian Weimer
1999-04-25 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` GPL and "free" software Nick Roberts
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Tim Smith
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-27 0:00 ` David Kastrup
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
[not found] ` <7g5qgg$n7t@www.inetnow.net>
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` David Starner
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Richard E. Hawkins Esq.
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Richard E. Hawkins Esq.
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Roger Espel Llima
1999-05-07 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-07 0:00 ` dennison
1999-05-07 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
[not found] ` <7gdv6m$1fid$1@Mercury.mcs.net>
1999-05-03 0:00 ` [O/T 4 cla] " Joshua E. Rodd
[not found] ` <7gkmt5$e8t@www.inetnow.net>
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
[not found] ` <7gnb7u$hlu@www.inetnow.net>
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-08 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-08 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-12 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-04 0:00 ` James Youngman
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar [this message]
1999-05-04 0:00 ` James Youngman
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-07 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-05-08 0:00 ` dewarr
1999-05-18 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
[not found] ` <7g7ro3$q91@www.inetnow.net>
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
[not found] ` <7g8ip8$skl@www.inetnow.net>
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-29 0:00 ` [Offtopic for cl.ada] " Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Aidan Skinner
1999-05-08 0:00 ` dewarr
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Samuel Mize
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Samuel Mize
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Fraser Wilson
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` David Starner
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` David Starner
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
[not found] ` <R5qW2.242$jw4.22063@burlma1-snr2>
[not found] ` <372ADEED.D907754@doc.ic.ac.uk>
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-08 0:00 ` dewarr
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Alan Braggins
1999-05-01 0:00 ` Phil Hunt
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Andy Isaacson
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Phil Hunt
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-03 0:00 ` dennison
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Paul Hughett
1999-04-30 0:00 ` spblunt
1999-04-30 0:00 ` David Kastrup
1999-04-27 0:00 ` spblunt
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Florian Weimer
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Tim Smith
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` spblunt
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Tim Smith
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Kenneth P. Turvey
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Mitch Blevins
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Sam Holden
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Phil Hunt
1999-04-27 0:00 ` David Kastrup
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Richard E. Hawkins Esq.
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Phil Hunt
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Ronald Cole
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-23 0:00 ` GPL and "free" software (was: air traffic control software) Robert Dewar
1999-04-21 0:00 ` dennison
[not found] ` <DXqW2.244$jw4.22256@burlma1-snr2>
[not found] ` <7gdln1$vna$1@jetsam.uits.indiana.edu>
[not found] ` <372ADFBD.4F4C241B@doc.ic.ac.uk>
1999-05-01 0:00 ` GPL and "free" software Lynn Winebarger
[not found] ` <7gff2f$8o2@www.inetnow.net>
1999-05-01 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
[not found] ` <m2zp3pat3q.fsf@mailhost.neuroinformatik.ruhr-uni-bochum.de>
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Larry Kilgallen
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
[not found] ` <7gdd9e$36l$1@flotsam.uits.indiana.edu>
[not found] ` <372ADF48.B3C88507@doc.ic.ac.uk>
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Nick Roberts
1999-05-07 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
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