🚀 go-pugleaf

>>>>> "David" == David Kastrup <dak@mailhost.neuroinformatik.ruhr-uni-bochum.de> writes:

 David> Jason Clifford <jason@dlsl.demon.co.uk> writes:
 >> In article <6v5svm$2ls$1@nntp.ucs.ubc.ca>, Bill Unruh
 >> <unruh@physics.ubc.ca> writes
 >>  By 'selling the software' I mean selling you a license to use the
 >> software. The GPL by it's nature permits for charges to be made for
 >> distribution services but not for the sale of 'a license to use' the
 >> software.

 David> The GPL *is* a license permitting you to use the software.  From
 David> the GPL:

You mean: it is not theirs to sell. Copyright Law grants copyright
owners a temporary monopoly to copy and distribute their works.
Anything outside it belongs to the public from the day of
publication. But usage is covered: anyone may make fair use of any copy
(s)he owns. Running the software and backing it up is fair use.

OTOH, licenses are a type of agreements: they require two
parties. Unless you were made aware of the terms before you handed over
the money, chances are the courts won't believe agreement was reached
(as evidence proves).

 David> As you can see, the license explicitly grants you the right to
 David> use the software unrestrictedly.

As if it was theirs to give away..

 David> If you are selling GPLed software, you are also selling the
 David> right to use the software (of course, unless you are the
 David> original author, you would not be permitted to sell it in any
 David> other way) in the way intended by the holder to the rights of

And even then.

 David> the software.  Which is just the same as when you are selling
 David> Microtrash software.

Doesn't matter, really.  Once you own a legit copy of a restricted
(read: copyrighted) work, you are free to use it within the restrincions
the law puts upon you.  Unless you signed a contract (read: license)
restricting your rights prior the purchase.

-- 
Note: I reserve the right to publish or return unsolicited, harassing or 
annoying (e-)mail.  /hy:x/                               PGP keyID: 0xDF28F4C1
"All are strange but thee and me; but sometimes thee acts funny."- Chuck Blake