On 3/14/07, Ted Thibodeau Jr <tthibod...@openlinksw.com> wrote:
Hi, Emile -- This is a common misconception. Something being under GPL does not necessarily mean there are no costs or charges associated with its deployment or use. The following comes from the GPL itself (Version 2, the only version which applies to Virtuoso) -- http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things. [...] Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not covered by this License; they are outside its scope. These other activities include using Virtuoso as an Application Server, Database Server, or otherwise; and such use is subject to further licensure terms. One element of those terms is that when you use Virtuoso in a commercial enterprise, you must purchase the appropriate commercial license.
OK, clear. The reason I thought the earlier case applied to Virtuoso was because http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowRequireFeesays "The GPL is a free software license, and therefore it permits people to use and even redistribute the software without being required to pay anyone a fee for doing so." I also saw no preamble for licensing conditions in addition to the GPL when I downloaded Virtuoso, nor when I looked ate the LICENSE and COPYING file that were included. Anyhow, as I think I mentioned earlier, it's obviously your product so you are free to state any terms that you feel are fair to you. Regards. Emiliano
