Is giving away a distro illegal ?? Read this.

trickykid · 04-07-2002, 07:02 PM

http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/04...8.shtml?tid=23

jeremy · 04-07-2002, 07:10 PM

From what I understand that is untrue. The downloadable ISO images are OK to distribute. Some disto's "boxed" editions may include programs that are not OK to distribute.

--jeremy

trickykid · 04-07-2002, 07:17 PM

Yeah what I don't understand from that article is they keep talking about the patented MPG or whatever from unisys/IBM, but most boxed distro's claim its ok to redistribute their cd's even.

Hellson · 04-07-2002, 08:04 PM

most of that they are speaking is a load of crap but it has said to have been that if you download it from the internet and it is classed as "open source" then you are legally aloud to distribute it provided you are not selling it or making some type of profit off it thats all. when you buy it in a box'd set then it has a slight different story they have a booklet in it stating prohibiting redistributing it because of the software on it that is not usally downloadable for example with the iso.
enjoy

crashmeister · 04-07-2002, 08:19 PM

I think that article is bull - look at netscape - it isnt open source alright; so you cant modify the program - but I cant see where the problem is with giving it away - you can download it for free any day!

Hellson · 04-07-2002, 08:29 PM

well infact netscape is a one user license you can download it off the net for free but then again when it comes in a box set you have only one license for it it is not open source so it will not be free to distribute netscape have put there stock in so they could beat microsofts internet explorer IE but free downloads and free licenses haven't quite been working if you see my point netscape was originally made for Mac so don't be confused about it