LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Linspire/Freespire
User Name
Password
Linspire/Freespire This Forum is for the discussion of Linspire and Freespire.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-23-2004, 03:45 AM   #1
funggorgor
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Dec 2004
Posts: 2

Rep: Reputation: 0
Is Linspire totally GPL licensed?


Is Linspire totally GPL licensed?

It states that "part" of linspire is GPL

So is Linspire totally GPL licensed?
If linspire is not totally gpl licensed, do they have the right to include the GPL part?
 
Old 12-23-2004, 04:46 AM   #2
Zuggy
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Pocatello, Idaho, USA
Distribution: Ubuntu
Posts: 256

Rep: Reputation: 30
Re: Is Linspire totally GPL licensed?

Quote:
Originally posted by funggorgor
Is Linspire totally GPL licensed?

It states that "part" of linspire is GPL

So is Linspire totally GPL licensed?
If linspire is not totally gpl licensed, do they have the right to include the GPL part?
No- Linspire is not completely GPL'd

Yes- They can include the GPL'd part. It's no different then installing non-GPL'd software on Linux or installing GPL'd software on Windows. It's not against the License. If your wondering what is and isn't GPL'd in Linspire, everything that is normal for a Linux distro, like the kernel, KDE, etc. is GPL'd. Anything that is a cool feature Linspire added, like the software for their Click'N'Run Repository isn't.

Also all the software in the Click'N'Run repository is Open-Source, but you have to pay a monthly fee to Linspire for it because they package it all up into an easy to install package.

For anyone not knowing what the GPL is, it's (probably) the most commonly used Open-Source License. It stands for the GNU/GPL or GNU General Public License. However it isn't the only one. If you have an interest in Open-Source, Law, or want to see if there's a better open-source license out there for your project besides the GNU/GPL check out the Open Source Initiative. If I remember correctly I believe they have somewhere around 50 Open Source Licenses.

PS for future reference, this kind of post should go in the straight general a few forums down. The Linux-General area is mostly for problems that don't have a designated forum or cover several areas.

Last edited by Zuggy; 12-23-2004 at 04:48 AM.
 
Old 12-23-2004, 08:05 AM   #3
trickykid
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2001
Posts: 24,149

Rep: Reputation: 269Reputation: 269Reputation: 269
Moved: More suitable in Linspire forum.
 
Old 12-23-2004, 12:46 PM   #4
Zuggy
Member
 
Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Pocatello, Idaho, USA
Distribution: Ubuntu
Posts: 256

Rep: Reputation: 30
Guess I was wrong
 
Old 12-25-2004, 05:46 AM   #5
eagles-lair
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Distribution: Lindows/Linspire, SuSE, PC-BSD, ubuntu, puppy
Posts: 239

Rep: Reputation: 30
Hey Zuggy, that's the first step towards having an open mind on open source. Really!

We can all learn from each other as long as we aren't shot down by a barrage of ballistic stuff.

Now, SuSE is a proprietory OS like Linspire, though it has been going longer than Linspire (or Lindows, the predecessor to Linspire).

Novell bought SuSE and has notified it is going to make the YaST installer open source. That is wonderful news.

However, they don't have to do that.

Linspire's own engineers, employed by them, have developed several very handy applications and utilities. Some of these are being open-sourced.

The biggie, Click-n-Run isn't, perhaps mainly because that is what sets them apart from other flavours of Linux.

There is absolutely nothing in the GPL which makes it unlawful to package whatever you want into a distribution. And then sell it. Or give it away. Or whatever.

Whatever you package that is GPL has to have the source available to you, should you want it.

In Linspire's case they don't force you to download an extra ISO with the source on it - it is optional.

Choice. Your choice. That is what Linux is all about, after all. Their website tells you where to find it, and download it, if you need it.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Selling GPL Licensed Code!? GodSendDeath General 6 08-11-2005 05:57 PM
Is Licensed copy of Unix or Linux needs cash? pls compare with licensed windows.... nazib Linux - General 11 02-13-2005 03:20 PM
Selling GPL licensed anythings MasterC Linux - General 14 12-21-2004 08:28 PM
Does Linspire Violate the GPL? AlexV Linspire/Freespire 3 08-21-2004 11:37 PM
So is Mozilla (for Linux) licensed under GPL or MPL? microtim Linux - General 1 11-05-2003 01:10 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Linspire/Freespire

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:12 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration