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The other side
You might enjoy reading this essay:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/Articles/LicensingOverview.mspx

The GPL permits unlimited free use, modification, and redistribution of software and its source code, but imposes three key restrictions on every licensee: ? If the licensee redistributes any code licensed under the GPL, it must guarantee availability of the code for the entire work for unlimited replication by anyone requesting it.

? If the licensee redistributes GPL code, it may not charge a licensing fee or royalty, but may charge only for distribution costs.

? If the licensee includes any GPL code in another program, the entire program becomes subject to the terms of the GPL.



This third restriction is what makes the GPL "viral," because it causes GPL terms to apply to software that incorporates or is derived from code distributed under the GPL, regardless of whether the program's developer intended that result or even knew of the presence of GPL code in the program. Violation of these restrictions may subject the offender to civil and criminal penalties for copyright infringement.

Or maybe not.

The issue, at any rate, is when the GPL license causes code which was written with no intent to be covered by the GPL gets covered by the GPL anyway.
That's definitely an issue for the courts to decide.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 04/15/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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There is nothing new in the GPL  Chad_z | 04/14/05
Linux programmer wins legal victory  Loverock Davidson | 04/14/05
I guess they were wrong  NonZealot | 04/14/05
RE: I guess they were wrong  richdave | 04/14/05
Therein lies the weakness  quietLee | 04/14/05
Patents cover "the idea behind the code"...  Anton Philidor | 04/14/05
At least until the Supreme Court  Update victim | 04/15/05
The same Supreme Court that said Congress...  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
i really dont believe people in this forum...  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
In your eagerness to bash Linux and OSS...  Linux_Developer | 04/15/05
Come on Zealot, you know better than that!  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/05
free as in beer  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
As they say, there is no such thing as a free lunch.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/05
nor free beer  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Greedom - I like it !  magcomment | 04/15/05
Thanks  Loverock Davidson | 04/15/05
Good news!  George Mitchell | 04/14/05
Yes, it is.  Anton Philidor | 04/14/05
Re: Yes, it is.  none none | 04/14/05
Lawyers appreciate words like"enhancements".  Anton Philidor | 04/14/05
Re: Lawyers appreciate words like"enhancements".  none none | 04/14/05
The other side  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
Intent  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
Re: The other side  none none | 04/15/05
Should have quoted clause 2b of the GPL...  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
By a lawyer  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
What a poison pill has been brewed here  quietLee | 04/14/05
proper seperation  hipparchus2000 | 04/15/05
Trust you're right.  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
Either it does or it doesn't..  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
Remember indemnification?  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
Huh?  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
Remember the Timeline case?  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
Re: Timeline  none none | 04/15/05
Do you think Cognos knew about...  Anton Philidor | 04/16/05
Re: Do you think Cognos knew about...  none none | 04/16/05
The other issue is whether GPL'ed code is "enhanced"...  Anton Philidor | 04/15/05
Re: The other issue is whether GPL'ed code is "enhanced"...  none none | 04/16/05
How about GPL 2b, as quoted above?  Anton Philidor | 04/16/05
Re: How about GPL 2b, as quoted above?  none none | 04/16/05
STOP CODING FOR WINDOWS!!!!!  Mack DaNife | 04/18/05
It would be sufficient to have the code in another file  hipparchus2000 | 04/15/05
Not according to the linux kernel developers  wizard_of_oz | 04/15/05
Provide link please  hipparchus2000 | 04/16/05
after all  hipparchus2000 | 04/16/05
you know which kernel developers...  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
Actually, they don't HAVE to....  doe_z | 04/15/05
their code shouldnt be embedded...  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Evertthing for nothing  whisperycat | 04/14/05
people are also missing another point...  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
We don't even read GPL at all.  ChinesePhDinCA | 04/14/05
How? He reverse engineers your product  balsover | 04/15/05
An Irish Blessing for you,  Update victim | 04/15/05
Let me get this straight...  wizard_of_oz | 04/14/05
Um, I am not sure what you are saying..  Patrick Jones | 04/14/05
What's the point of GPL?  wizard_of_oz | 04/15/05
The point is not..  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
What will the settlement be in this case?  Anton Philidor | 04/16/05
Re: What will the settlement be in this case?  none none | 04/16/05
There are no monsters under the bed!  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Re: What's the point of GPL?  none none | 04/16/05
exactly, and to expand  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
To assure no one makes money...  Anton Philidor | 04/16/05
What they recieved was free  Justcauz | 04/15/05
What the **** are you talking about?  dstinson_z | 04/15/05
Ok, I'll use your example.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/05
Yes..  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
i think you should give me a bj for reading this crap.  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
car analogies  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Proper seperation  hipparchus2000 | 04/15/05
you just dont get it  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Let me spell it out for you then...  wizard_of_oz | 04/18/05
let me turn the tables...  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
Ice-nine  Roger Ramjet | 04/15/05
Exactly  hipparchus2000 | 04/15/05
someone should lol  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Does any one here employ logic or read?  xshakes | 04/15/05
Yep - and that is the problem -  quietLee | 04/15/05
Thank you!  wizard_of_oz | 04/15/05
Not a good argument.  doe_z | 04/15/05
i dont agree to eulas  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
LOL, me like. (nt)  doe_z | 04/17/05
So you want Linux to just be a hobby?  wizard_of_oz | 04/18/05
Um..  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
theyre just flaming trolls.  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Gee, you guys sound just like ...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/05
I don't understand  ab@... | 04/15/05
I think...  rapson | 04/15/05
Carl, you nailed it in one.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/05
Re: Carl, you nailed it in one.  none none | 04/16/05
dang, i didnt make the list...  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
Odd, I don't see the connection here  voska | 04/18/05
I agree with both of you  Michael Kelly | 04/15/05
However....  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
Make your backup copy and don't share!  osreinstall | 04/15/05
Official Rulling??? Have you not seen the news?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/16/05
Really..  Patrick Jones | 04/18/05
Re: I think...  none none | 04/16/05
probably...  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
Let's see if this works  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/05
Nope, doesn't work...  Patrick Jones | 04/15/05
So why has Bit Torrent Servers been shut down?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/16/05
You *can* still get Bittorrent, last I checked.  CobraA1 | 04/16/05
And that is as it should be.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/16/05
hmm . . .  CobraA1 | 04/18/05
You had better tell Hollywood to stop looking at Bit Torrent!  B.O.F.H. | 04/16/05
if they use a gpl'd version of a bit torrent clone  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
Show me the court case..  Patrick Jones | 04/18/05
The P2P software makers are not violating anyones copyrights.  B.O.F.H. | 04/16/05
Tell it to the folks without servers.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/16/05
Are you finally getting the clue?  B.O.F.H. | 04/17/05
double standards...  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
he (and the other nongpl zealots) are just being ignorant  linuxoverwindows | 04/16/05
What has MS to do with anything here?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/17/05
About as much as the RIAA/MPAA, but no one insulted you, did they?? (NT)  none none | 04/17/05
Re: Gee, you guys sound just like ...  none none | 04/16/05
If you are clueless...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/16/05
Re: If you are clueless...  none none | 04/16/05
GPL Victory?  Scrat | 04/15/05
Not true,...  doe_z | 04/15/05
Garbage  Scrat | 04/18/05
actually, no.  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
Nothing is for free  osreinstall | 04/15/05
Re: Nothing is for free  none none | 04/16/05
If you use...  doe_z | 04/16/05
partly...  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05
You guys didn't understand  osreinstall | 04/19/05
hating gpl is like hating ford  linuxoverwindows | 04/18/05

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