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RHEL - You're way off base
Nothing in the GPL prohibits you from selling your software. That's where most people go wrong when talking about open source software. It only says that you must include the source code for any software you do sell, if it's GPL'd. The buyer can then do whatever s/he wishes with that source code, as long as all of RedHat's (for example) trademarks are removed. If you check the RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) web site, you'll see that the ISO's include the sources every time. It is in no way proprietary.

However, I have heard that RHEL 3.0 contains some proprietary drivers. That's not too unusual, as they come from other sources. You can't copy these. There are several video boards that have proprietary drivers for Linux for example. If you don't want to use them, you just get a different video board.

What RHEL sells is a service. Redhat has put together a great package, and added 24/7 support as well as automated upgrades and patches. They've found a way to take a company whose only IT staff are button pushing MS monkeys (of which I am essentially one) and made Linux simple enough for them to use, while saving the company thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thousands a year in hardware and software licensing costs. And Redhat can profit from it. It's a win, win that I heartily support.

Oh, and almost all the source code used in RHEL is available for download in individual packages at various RedHat mirrors. You just have to put the package together yourself.

-Gypsy
Posted by: TechnoGypsy   Posted on: 10/29/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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SCO.....becoming less of an entity  ONEstar | 10/28/03
Is SCO stupid or insane?  solprovider | 10/29/03
Use Windows at home  markj44 | 11/04/03
General Public License  decourl | 10/28/03
You are incorrect  Robert Crocker | 10/28/03
Story is still incorrect  decourl | 10/28/03
that's why it pays  lmaxwell | 10/28/03
LOL - another m$ blunder  stephen732@... | 10/28/03
Ah, the missed details...  John Le'Brecage | 10/28/03
Why settle for just snippets?  Robert Crocker | 10/29/03
More misconceptions  escoles@... | 10/29/03
You're seriously confused  gath | 10/29/03
Oh, yeah?  Yen_z | 10/29/03
Why you you code for GPL?  IT_User | 10/29/03
Your crazy... and these message boards really suck  FreeBSD | 10/29/03
Am I required to publish my modifications?  csk_1975 | 10/28/03
Point well taken  decourl | 10/28/03
Distribute source code upon request  dscherf | 10/29/03
Depends on what you mean...  jmoconnor | 10/28/03
Sweet (and these new talkbacks suck)  Patrick Jones | 10/29/03
GPL is easy to read !  mgalle | 10/29/03
Come on SCO, we support you!  pa2004 | 10/29/03
Say what!?!  Laff | 10/29/03
Nice to know...  IT_User | 10/29/03
I see a different issue with GPL  screaming silence | 10/29/03
Re: I see a different issue with GPL  Chris Moller | 10/29/03
Is this a loophole or a GPL violation?  screaming silence | 10/29/03
Re: Is this a loophole or a GPL violation?  Chris Moller | 10/29/03
Programs without a purpose?  in-DUH-vidual | 10/29/03
Unlikely to arrise, I'd guess  dw@... | 10/29/03
It's already happening  screaming silence | 10/29/03
RHEL - You're way off base  TechnoGypsy | 10/29/03
Hmmm...  screaming silence | 10/29/03
Re: Hmmm...  rhavyn | 10/29/03
Pass on legal guidance, but....  Dr.C | 10/29/03
Misprint.  gulic | 10/28/03
Unbelieveably desperate  zd-spam | 10/28/03
This is great news!  George Mitchell | 10/28/03
No-research - ignorant ZDNet reporter strikes again  Robert Hahn | 10/28/03
But interesting ... Samba example  Fred Fredrickson | 10/28/03
Two Samba issues  Robert Crocker | 10/29/03
SCO Legal Moves  Chad_z | 10/28/03
When will SCO give it up? . . Don't they know nobody is listening any more?  Plain Logic | 10/28/03
Re: When will SCO give it up?  Chris Moller | 10/29/03
Flailing in the 'net  bidemytime | 10/28/03
Balderdash.  Rednoise | 10/28/03
good article; bad title  error27@... | 10/28/03
morals -- lol  blahblahblah | 10/29/03
SCO: "GPL Violates laws of gravity"  dw@... | 10/29/03
Ok, do they REALLY expect to have customers?  BitTwiddler | 10/29/03
customers  blahblahblah | 10/29/03
Let's just say...  BitTwiddler | 10/29/03
Would otherlicenses then get overturned?  Robert Crocker | 10/29/03
The really intersting questions...  escoles@... | 10/29/03
Don't be so sure...  BitTwiddler | 10/29/03
Re your post  none none | 10/29/03
Man, these new Talkbacks stink!!  none none | 10/29/03
ZDNet, you suck...  none none | 10/29/03
GPL and EULA  dkwiatkowski@... | 10/29/03
EULA worse than GPL  rgriffith64@... | 10/29/03
Very interesting even if completely useless.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/29/03
What version of the US constitution .....  Terfenol_D | 10/29/03
Not the same version the US Army is reading...  dw@... | 10/29/03
LAND WARRIOR Article  MarcB_z | 10/29/03
ERROR  Update victim | 10/29/03
A sign of weakness  voska | 10/29/03
What If This Forces Software Licensing Legislation  andyhayes1 | 10/29/03
Your crazy..  FreeBSD | 10/29/03
Does anybody know .....  Dr.C | 10/29/03
Legitimate concern  pschroeder@... | 10/29/03
You're right  IT_User | 10/29/03
Market  pschroeder@... | 10/29/03
The GPL violates the constitution?!  HypnoToad | 10/29/03
Enough windmills to tilt at  rbethell | 10/29/03
SCO's Real Goal  BanjoPaterson | 10/29/03
Could SCO....  KMAG | 10/29/03
SCO and Microsoft... winning big by losing big  Knorthern Knight | 10/29/03
'SCO offered no details in its court filing,'  jgmsys@... | 10/29/03
SCO, is not the only game in town.  netalff@... | 10/29/03
Good Question...  John Zern | 10/29/03
sell sell sell   afterbrnr | 11/04/03
The GPL virus  markj44 | 11/04/03
Many big companies violate the GPL  markj44 | 11/04/03
It really doesn't matter what people think  markj44 | 11/04/03
what do you mean - untested  wessonjoe | 09/16/04

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