🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <8bd9hxm00j69Ed6chQ@andrew.cmu.edu> jb3o+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jon Allen Boone) writes:

   Of course, if you change gnu-emacs (for instance) other than by
   writing a elisp-script, then your code does fall under the copyleft
   and you are required to provide sources for your own code as well as
   the code the FSF supplied.  However, again, there is nothing to
   prevent you from selling the software - you just have to provide the
   sources for free to dweebs like me who might not want to pay for what
   you're selling and *not* be able to change it as I see fit.

No, they don't have to provide the sources for free to you if you don't
pay for the product.  (I'm not sure if this is what you mean.)  If you
don't want to pay anything for the product from a vendor, and don't
receive a distribution from that vendor (i.e. they don't give it to you
free), then you can't expect to get the source for free, either.  If
they give away the object files or whatever, and it is derived from
GPL-protected software, then they must give away or offer to give away
the source for that software, too -- same if they sell the object files,
they must include the source and can't add extra cost for it (or at
least beyond "nominal cost" for shipping the source in addition to the
objects -- I can't remember if this is permitted).

Of course, since you can get the source (basically) for free, and with
it you get the (GPL-guaranteed) rights to use that source however you
see fit, you can't be restricted in copying the program (including,
explicitly I believe, the delivered object files) to as many other
machines as you like, and letting others copy them off your machines for
free (if you let them).

Note that people CAN, I understand, use GPL-protected software to create
their own software without ever having to distribute source -- as long
as they don't distribute the software, either (as in when the software
is used internally).
--

James Craig Burley, Software Craftsperson    burley@ai.mit.edu