Is what I want to do illegal? Please read and reply

shassouneh · 03-29-2002, 06:51 PM

Hi All,
I recently PURCHASED a copy of SuSE Linux Professional 7.3 (the actual package). Is it ILLEGAL for me to make copies of the CDs to give to a freind?
I've heard its OK since linux is all GNU, but since I had to BUY the package, I just wanted to make sure.

frieza · 03-29-2002, 08:20 PM

I don't think it is,suse linux is available for free download from ftp://ftp.suse.com, although i don't think they have iso images there, but then again you have the cds anyways, so that's irrelevant. So yes, go ahead, copy your cds, give them out, you aren't violating copyrights or breaking the law in any way

shassouneh · 03-29-2002, 08:26 PM

Cool, Thanx.
As for ISO images, they are not available. Which brings up yest another questions, what IF i create ISO images and upload them. Then will THAT be illegal?

zmedico · 03-30-2002, 12:47 AM

Ask *Suse* for permission, then you can't go wrong!

shassouneh · 03-30-2002, 01:47 AM

Maybe I should!

dorward · 03-30-2002, 05:36 AM

What does the license agreement that came in the boxed set say?

shassouneh · 03-30-2002, 05:51 AM

hmmm, haven't really looked at the Licence agreement yet. I would imagine though that it may not have anything specific about this!

dorward · 03-30-2002, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shassouneh
hmmm, haven't really looked at the Licence agreement yet. I would imagine though that it may not have anything specific about this!

It doesn't need to be specific, it will almost certainly have a clause about redistribtion of the software. Either you can redestribute all of it, or some of it, or all of it with conditions.

mcleodnine · 03-30-2002, 10:12 AM

Redistribution of the Linux stuff on the DVD/CDs is A-OK. However redistribution of YaST, YaST2 (modules and source) is _not_ OK according to SuSE. Since it's an integral part of the distro it kinda leaves you hung up.

You could boot from the CD or DVD and then install via ftp from suse.com or one of its mirrors, but it can take some time. AFAIK it's totally legit.

shassouneh · 03-30-2002, 03:05 PM

Cool! I never intended to strip out YAST2.. I just wanted to make copies of the distro to spread it around. I still think SuSE is the BEST distro out there!

mcleodnine · 03-31-2002, 02:07 AM

Like I said, redistributing the YaST stuff is not good karma. If you burn a CD, xfer over your entire filesystem or otherwise copy the SuSE images, you'll be copying YaST-ies.

The only way it would be legit is if you copied all _but_ the yast tools or install from ftp.

finegan · 04-01-2002, 02:44 PM

I downloaded the full version of SuSe 7.3 for Sparc recently so I was wondering how they juggle the GPL/LGPL/MPL problem and not having the ISOs publicly available for x86 when they do for Sparc and its hard to enforce copyright on pre-compiled binaries. OpenBSD end-runs it by having the ISO images themselves be the only aspect of the OS that is under a limited copyright.

Something smelled nasty in Elsinore, so I poked around my favorite mirror, and found the phrase that pays:

- SuSE Linux (YaST in particular) may not be reproduced on
CDs or other media FOR VALUE. Reproduction for personal
or educational use is explicitly allowed and encouraged.

Also, from the copyright license of YaST, under section 2, Processing:

b) The Licensee is obliged to make all work distributed by him which
is derived as a whole or in part from YaST or parts of YaST to third
parties as a whole under the terms of this licence without
royalties.

So basically, everything is cool if you're not getting paid, in whole or part... for the software itself. This would not preclude your buddy flipping you a quarter for the blank CD, which would have nothing to do with the software... technically.

I guess in some ways this makes for redistrobution of SuSe being the most socialist of all of the distros as there is no legal way to share it without giving it away for free.

Thanks for the chance to research that,

Cheers,

Finegan