Re: [linux-audio-user] ebay guy: looks like he figured it out

On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Daniel James wrote: But he is also doing _marketing_! Even if developers would not see any of the money, this activity will positively affect Audacity's market share (more users!). And this again will also help (now and in the future) other parties (maybe the developer team if they decide to go into business) selling Audacity in various forms (CDs, support-packages, books, courses, etc). Even if we consider the absolute worst case of how GPL software can be legally used - name changed, no links to original developers except copyrights, etc - there will still be a lot more people who are accustomed to the UI. This is valuable when the dev-team starts selling CDs... In this specific case, the only potential problem is whether GPL rules are followed. Until someone buys the CD, and reports that there are no sources included, nor a written offer for the sources, we have no grounds for complaints. Btw; as for the worst case scenario - I don't think it's possible completely hide the origins of a GPL'ed program without violating the license terms. GPL 2.c) says: ""c) If the modified program normally reads commands interactively when run, you must cause it, when started running for such interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this License. (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on the Program is not required to print an announcement.)"" ... so if a program prints a copyright notice, you are not allowed to remove it. Or at least that's how I interpret the above.:) -- http://www.eca.cx Audio software for Linux!