Re: Correction on GPL restrictions [was: Re: sell ImageJ]

Posted by Adrian Daerr on May 18, 2007; 6:09pm
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/Correction-on-GPL-restrictions-was-Re-sell-ImageJ-tp3699405p3699406.html

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> I agree with most of what you've said, but you are wrong about the restriction
> a GPL license creates.
>
> You CAN include GPL software on any CD you sell, as long as you include the source
> code with it, or make it
> the source code of the GPL software easily available to the buyer.

Thank you very much for correcting my mistake, my excuse to all for
having carelessly produced and propagated a false statement on the GPL !

The "problem" (not mine! but maybe for some companies) I wanted to
allude to is: you cannot sell (even offer for free download ?) a
modification of ImageJ (or a bundle ImageJ+plugins*) without making its
source code available under the GPL as well. Am I wrong again ?

sorry again,
Adrian

(*) the issue with plugins seems more subtle. You *can* distribute/sell
your own plugins without ImageJ under whatever licence/closed source;
distributing them with ImageJ as a bundle might amount to distributing a
"work based on GPL'ed software" and be necessarily under GPL (except if
the bundle can be considered a "mere aggregation"). Then again I am not
a lawyer, this is just what I conclude from reading the GPL and the
following FAQ:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLModuleLicense
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation

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