From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu May 15 19:00:20 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2821837B401 for ; Thu, 15 May 2003 19:00:20 -0700 (PDT) Received: from alpsgiken.alpsgiken.gr.jp (www.alpsgiken.gr.jp [210.166.150.61]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id F336D43F3F for ; Thu, 15 May 2003 19:00:18 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from joel@alpsgiken.alpsgiken.gr.jp) Received: from zz_radiant2 (www1.alpsgiken.gr.jp [61.114.244.165]) by alpsgiken.alpsgiken.gr.jp (8.9.1a/3.7W) with ESMTP id LAA03337; Fri, 16 May 2003 11:00:15 +0900 Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 11:05:38 +0900 From: Joel Rees To: Maksim Yevmenkin In-Reply-To: <20030515225508.73684.qmail@web40305.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20030515225508.73684.qmail@web40305.mail.yahoo.com> Message-Id: <20030516104116.C652.JOEL@alpsgiken.gr.jp> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Becky! ver. 2.00.11 cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: including GPL software info FreeBSD source tree X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 02:00:20 -0000 > Hello, > > what is the proper way to include GPL source code into FreeBSD distribution? > i have a source code (from Linux) that is under GPL. i would like hack it a > little bit and include it into FreeBSD distribution. Is this for just yourself, or do you plan to make your own custom distribution of a derivative-freeBSD, or do you want to get the GPL'ed code added to freeBSD (the general distribution's source tree), or do you just want to port a GPLed app to freeBSD and make your port available, or is it something else? Also, you need to know whether the GPLed source code must be linked to operating system or other code from freeBSD in order to run. > should i > > 1) keep GPL license? YES! > 2) put BSD license on top and keep GPL? NO! > 3) substitute GPL with BSD license? NO! (Sorry about the shouting.) You cannot change the license. Attempting to do so would result in breaking international and (probably) local laws. Only the original author can change the license. If there is more than one author, I think every author has to agree, essentially. (This is true of _any_ license, including the BSD licenses.) For information particular to the GPL, go to http://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html and read. If your native language is not English, check for your language at http://www.gnu.org and look for the link for "Licenses" in your language. > do i have to contact the author of the Linux code and get his permission? Contacting the original author when you plan to modify code is _always_ a courtesy, and a Good Thing. Do so. -- Joel Rees Programmer, Kansai Systems Group Altech Corporation (Alpsgiken), Osaka, Japan http://www.alpsgiken.co.jp