Re: Open-source tools

[Eric Blake]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

[dropping the mass CC]

According to Sander Schins on 9/17/2009 2:14 AM:
> Dear Sir/Madam,

Your approach of blast-mailing a large set of disparate projects is a bit
inappropriate.  My reply will focus only on GNU Coreutils, which is
licensed under the GNU GPLv3 because it is Free Software (as opposed to
the broader category of open source software).

> Before we wanted to make that step we would like to contact the authors off
> the open-source tools with the question if they would agree that we will
> sell the live-cd to this company.

Please go read the Free Software Foundation page about the GPLv3 license,
which should cover your questions on what you are and are not allowed to
do with Coreutils.  Among other things, the GPL does not restrict your
freedom to earn money from distributing open source.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney

Furthermore, the GPL explicitly states that anyone can use or distribute
Free Software without contacting the original authors, as long as they
abide be certain terms to preserve those same freedoms for others (this is
freedom 2 of the four essential freedom).  I'm paraphrasing here; read the
actual GPL for the real wording.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

If you have further questions about using GPL software on your CD, contact
a lawyer, and/or ask the folks at address@hidden

- --
Don't work too hard, make some time for fun as well!

Eric Blake             address@hidden
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (Cygwin)
Comment: Public key at home.comcast.net/~ericblake/eblake.gpg
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/

iEYEARECAAYFAkqyI5oACgkQ84KuGfSFAYDjIQCgzlkC5VO35jkdJ8JggpswbgdH
S9UAoISXgGnO1NF2uSJRNY9eBxUC9k5I
=+okz
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----