Well, we can go with what I know best...SuSE:
To begin with, YaST is proprietary software (in version 9.0 and earlier), so that in itself prevents unauthorized reselling of a SuSE distribution.
SuSE also contains commercial (shareware) applications...VMware and Main Actor come to mind, though I think vmware was removed recently.
There are also other non-GPL applications included, though I haven't checked their licenses...I'm assuming most are still open source.
I don't believe simply copying/redistributing would be an issue, but reselling may get you a stern email or two.

SuSE 7.0 pro also had StarOffice bundled with it.

There's SuSE Winerack which comes with CrossOver
and a game.

Xandros comes with CrossOverOffice and -Plugins ...


Cheers,
Tink

thanks guys.. so in theory Linux can be pirated!

so any objections to this?

Linux can't be pirated. Proprietary applications can.

The objections are obvious - why take from the community that gives so much? There is no rule anywhere that says you can't have proprietary applications, just because the distro is free doesn't mean that the applications have to be, in the same way that you can get freeware for Windows.

If you believe that the application creator is somehow going against what Linux stands for, a better response would be to report them to the Free Software Foundation or another Linux defence type org.

And that's quite apart from the legality of it all.

well.. i can agree that linux it self may not be 'pirated', and i dont find fault in the actual software vendors in this,

BUT

as mikshaw and tinkster pointed out that there are proprietary software included in some versions of Linux distros, make it illegal to copy and re-sell them, what i want to establish here is that while linux it self can not be 'pirated' that those professional versions of SuSE can.. because of the proprietary software issue.

so.. ?

p.s - it wud be much appreciated of you guys can give me a few more examples of proprietary software in other linux distros

thanks