Commercial Licensing

[James Gosnell]

GPL'ed software in the base system: https://wiki.freebsd.org/GPLinBase


On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 9:58 PM, <kpneal at pobox.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Aug 09, 2013 at 08:41:04PM -0500, Someth San wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm interested in installing FreeBSD into a small form factor PC for
> > commercial use and was wondering whether there is a EULA in place for
> that
> > purpose. I would like to avoid the open source requirement of disclosing
> my
> > codes to a public community.
>
> This requirement of disclosure isn't so much an "open source" thing, it's
> required by some popular licenses (like the "GPL"). The rather large group
> of people in software has groups that prefer restrictive licenses like the
> GPL, and other groups who prefer licenses with fewer restrictions.
>
> Be aware that FreeBSD isn't covered by a single license. Rather, it is
> made up of a large number of pieces of software that came from various
> sources over a lot of years.
>
> In general FreeBSD tries to avoid using those kinds of license that you
> are saying you want to avoid. But in the set of all software that make up
> FreeBSD there is still code left covered by it. With a little care you can
> avoid getting bitten by this. Which leads to my next point...
>
> > If you can provide some information/direction in this regard, I would
> > greatly appreciate it.
>
> I want to second the advice of talking to a lawyer who specializes in
> copyright. The lawyer should be working for you and paid by you (or your
> business, etc). Any time real money is involved you should hire a lawyer.
>
> Any time real money is involved you should hire a lawyer. Any time the
> outcome matters you should hire a lawyer.
>
> Seriously, your use of the term "EULA" shows you need to talk to a lawyer.
>
> Give your lawyer the FreeBSD source code and your lawyer can look at it
> and advise you.
>
> But don't let this scare you. With a little care you will probably be just
> fine.
>
> --
> "A method for inducing cats to exercise consists of directing a beam of
> invisible light produced by a hand-held laser apparatus onto the floor ...
> in the vicinity of the cat, then moving the laser ... in an irregular way
> fascinating to cats,..." -- US patent 5443036, "Method of exercising a cat"
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-- 
James Gosnell, ACP