[Ardour-Dev] Licensing and enforced payments

[John Emmas]

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rigg"
Subject: Re: [Ardour-Dev] Licensing and enforced payments
>
> > 8: Paid for SVN
> > 9: Paid License to: disable crippled interface, Get access to more
> > features, Disable RSS ticker
>
> How does a paid license square with the GPL?
>

John - I can't answer for point 9 but when I was asked that question for
point 8 (a couple of weeks ago) my reasoning went as follows:-
>
> If somebody distributes a binary program that uses GPL code, the license
> obligates that person (let's call him "the originator") to distribute the
> source code at the same time as the binary or (alternatively) to provide a
> notice stating how and where the source code can be obtained.  It DOES NOT
> obligate the originator to distribute future changes to the code until the
> next time he distributes a corresponding binary build.
>
> If the originator decides to make interim changes available - without
> accompanying binaries - there's nothing in the agreement (as far as I can
> see) to stop him from making a charge for providing that service.
> Therefore (according to my interpretation of the GPL) an originator can
> charge for SVN access to his code without being in breach of the
> agreement.

Cheers,

John