Re: Intellectual Property II

[oaky]

Where in the GPL does it permit for charging a fee for the binary
distribution of a GPL'd work?  For example:

Section 1:
1.  You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's source
code as you receive it.... You may charge a fee for the physical act of
transferring a copy  and you may at your option offer warranty
protection in exchange for a fee.

As I read section 1, it permits distribution of Program's source code.
It does not permit distribution of Program (which would include object
form).  So this is a grant of right related only to distribution of
source code.


2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of
it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and distribute
such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above, provided
that you also meet all of these conditions:

(section 1 permits distribution of Program's source code).  Is this
section 2 grant of right limited to "copy and distribute such
modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above" talking about
the modifications or work in source code format, since that is all that
section 1 permits?

3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it,
under Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of
Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:
....

When you look at the "you also do one of the following" the phrase
"under the terms of Sections 1 and 2" relate to the one of the items
that you must do.

This section is what grants the right to distribute object code or
executable form.  There is nothing in this section about being able to
charge a fee, nor does it say you can't charge a fee.  Would that imply
that you have the right to charge a fee for the binary distribution, or
not?   If the binary distribution includes copyright work owned by
somebody else, where in the GPL did they authorize me to charge a fee
for their work?