GNU open source free software, says you can sell this code , redistribute etc:?

Question

Hi

I find many code on the web that says:

This program is free software; you can redistribute
it and/or modify it under the terms of the
GNU General Public License as published by the
Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the
License, or (at your option) any later version


I also read this :
http://www.opensource.org/osd.html


Has anyone redistributed code, online under gnu and sold it on, or offered it as an incentive for registering peopel on there websites for a yearly fees?

I am confused becaus what they are saying is, people can take this software under gnu, and sell it on etc.

Has anyone any experience of this?


Thanks in advance

Tovia SInger

Answer 1

This is the beauty of Open source is that you can sell it (as per the GPLv2). I would say take a look at RedHat and its business model. The thing that would probably get people to actually pay for open source software is either adding value by including extra features or built-in goodies or by providing exceptional support (give the software for free, but sell the CD and books and charge for phone support).

Answer 2

"Has anyone redistributed code, online under gnu and sold it on, or offered it as an incentive for registering peopel on there websites for a yearly fees?"



Now, offering it as an incentive for annual fees will not work with the GNU GPL. It stipulates that you do not restrict what the user does with the program, and that you make your source code available to them. They may easily give your program and the source code to anyone they wish.



What are you considering using this license for? What are your concerns?

Answer 3

The GNU General Public License is an open source license which allows you to redistribute anything licensed under it.



You can only charge somebody for "the physical act of transferring a copy" according to the terms of the GNU GPL, and you can't use any programs licensed under the GPL for commercial purposes.



There's more information about the latest version of the GPL, version 3, here:



http://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html

Answer 4

If software or code is freeware then yes you can use it as you please or alter it as you please, selling it on, is legal if the code is stated as freeware, but rather frowned upon, as this undermines the entire concept of it being freeware or openware. Hope this helps answer your question.