From: Barry Margolin <barmar@bbnplanet.com>
Subject: Re: GPL and "free" software
Date: 1999/04/26
Date: 1999-04-26T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <Zh0V2.54$jw4.5782@burlma1-snr2> (raw)
In-Reply-To: gi71g7.gj.ln@joey
In article <gi71g7.gj.ln@joey>, <spblunt@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>Well B has done nothing wrong in selling C the software. Neither party can
>really sue B because B hasn't broken the licence (unless they refuse to
>give C the source code upon request).
The GPL requires you to license the derivative work under the GPL or
something compatible with it. If B didn't provide such a license to C,
they violated the GPL.
Regarding Nick's question about what rights C has, there's been an ongoing
debate about this in the "embedded systems and GPL" thread for at least a
week.
>B can charge as much as they like for the software, and they are under no
>obligation to tell C that it can be obtained gratis elsewhere.
This is true. In fact, it might *not* be available elsewhere, unless some
other customer of B has chosen to make it available.
>
>Nick Roberts <nickroberts@callnetuk.com> wrote:
>> Wading rather trepidly into this issue, and with the understanding that I am
>> not any kind of legal expert (in UK or US law), I have wondered if there is
>> a potential problem with the GPL and similar licences, which I'll try to
>> describe.
>
>> Suppose party B obtains a work (of software), under the GPL, from party A
>> (paying nothing for it). Then suppose party B modifies this work to form a
>> work which they then sell to party C (who is not aware of its GPL heritage)
>> for a substantial amount of money.
>
>> Now, suppose party C subsequently discovers the fact that the work is
>> derived from a GPL work; what can they do? It seems to me that if party C
>> attempts to sue B, B can argue that C is not the injured party, because it
>> is not C's licence who's terms were breached. On the other hand, it seems
>> to me that if party A attempts to sue B (on behalf of C), B can argue that A
>> (or any other party, for that matter) has not suffered any financial loss,
>> and so are not entitled to any compensation (except, perhaps, for court
>> costs and legal fees).
--
Barry Margolin, barmar@bbnplanet.com
GTE Internetworking, Powered by BBN, Burlington, MA
*** DON'T SEND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO ME, post them to newsgroups.
Please DON'T copy followups to me -- I'll assume it wasn't posted to the group.
next prev parent reply other threads:[~1999-04-26 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 ` dennison
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 ` Robert Dewar
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
1999-04-26 0:00 ` spblunt
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 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Barry Margolin [this message]
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 ` Paul Hughett
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
[not found] ` <7g7ro3$q91@www.inetnow.net>
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Aidan Skinner
[not found] ` <7g8ip8$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
1999-05-08 0:00 ` dewarr
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 ` 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 ` Barry Margolin
1999-05-07 0:00 ` dennison
[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$hlu@www.inetnow.net>
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-05 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-08 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-08 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-12 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-11 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-10 0:00 ` Leslie Mikesell
1999-05-04 0:00 ` James Youngman
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-04 0:00 ` James Youngman
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1999-05-06 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-05-07 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-05-08 0:00 ` dewarr
1999-05-18 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Lynn Winebarger
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Samuel Mize
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Samuel Mize
1999-04-28 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert A Duff
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Fraser Wilson
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` David Starner
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Joshua E. Rodd
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` David Starner
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
1999-04-30 0:00 ` Ed Avis
[not found] ` <R5qW2.242$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 ` 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
1999-05-02 0:00 ` Andy Isaacson
1999-05-03 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-29 0:00 ` Barry Margolin
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 ` David Kastrup
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 ` spblunt
1999-04-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Florian Weimer
1999-04-26 0:00 ` Tim Smith
1999-04-23 0:00 ` GPL and "free" software (was: air traffic control software) Robert Dewar
[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 ` Ed Avis
1999-05-04 0:00 ` Larry Kilgallen
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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