On Jan 27, 2008 1:19 PM, Luis Garrido <luisgarrido@users.sourceforge.net> wrote:

> 1. usage of a computer program licensed under the terms of GPL in a hardware
> product, whether modified or not, is not a distribution of a computer
> program licensed under the terms of GPL, and is thus prohibited by GPL.

I don't follow you there. Why the exception you mention (selling
computers with Linux preinstalled) is indeed a exception and not the
rule?

It's the only case i can think of right now, that allows to distribute GPLed software inside hardware for profit,
because you're making profit out of the hardware not the software.

As I see it, where it really matters, LS is Open Source and Free
Software, whatever the FSF, the OSI or anyone else says. No matter how
it is worded, the only freedom the LS authors are trying to keep from
you is the one to make a direct commercial profit of their hard work
without giving back to the community, with seems to me more than fair
enough and quite worthy of openishness and freeishness.

Everything i'm saying is that the same thing is already covered by GPL and their exception is in fact a valid intepretation of the GPL.

Marek