Re: Red Hat EW Licensing

Thomas Dodd <ted@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Thu, 10 Apr 2003 17:05:45 -0500

Tom Georgoulias wrote:

Thomas Dodd wrote:
See the GPL. If you modify GPL source code, it's still GPL. So if you 
distribute the binaries, which are GPL, you must make the the source 
available, and cannot restrict redistribution of either. The only 
redistribution limits are:

1) Red Hat's tradmarks (like the ShadowMan logo, and the name)

2) non-GPL code included with the distro, like IBM's JVM.

So Red Hat says the _SOFTWARE_ is GPL. So I copy, modify, and 
redistribute according the the GPL. I've asked sales about it. waiting 
for a reply.

I read the "certain image files" mentioned in the first paragraph of 
Appendix 1 to be the IBM JDK mentioned in the second paragraph:

Since there seems to be no differentiation of trademark useage between 
RHL and RHEL, the usual redistribution guidelines apply.  And I take 
that to mean the JDK is the biggest barrier to binary redistribution.

So it appears that the IBM stuff cannot be copied except to authorized 
(RHEN subscribed) systems. You cannot remove it from the distro, due to 
the Red Hat trademarks use requirements. Time to make Pink Tie WS/ES 
<http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/0070010908.html?id=kmmg6Utm>
<aside>

I'm still not sure why cheapbytes had to modify the set. It's the same 
as the downloadable version. If it was a LUG selling it for the same 
price, $7 for the 3 binary CDs, $13 for all 6 CDs, it'd be fine. The 
reuse requirement of eductional/not-for-profit doesn't make sense.
I got several people to by CDs this way, who now buy boxed sets and RHN. 
With out the service they would never have tried it. 1) slow network 
speeds. 2) no CDR.
Groups like CheapBytes help spread linux top where it is now. Now they 
are being shuned. Also note, that the sell the boxed versions too. So 
it's an inexpensive way to try RHL. If you like it, you buy the box or 
RHN later. I wonder how many peoply tried linux and RHL that way that 
are now regular customers, bringing in more, especiall the big 
enterpriise accounts.
</aside>
	-Thomas