Clearing up the License Confusion

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http://forums.oscommerce.com/viewtopic.php?p=126085#126085
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People,

All your questions have already been asked at http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html, the people who made GPL.

Basically, if you use GPL code, attach anything to it, it is also GPL.  Not only that, me, you, or anyone else can request the source code and binaries.  End of story.  See here. http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#WhatDoesWrittenOfferValid and http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCTheGPLSaysModifiedVersions

So say for instance... you built a snazzy addon to osCommerce like AI that will recommend you a product.  Guess what, I can request the source code and binaries from you. http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePostedPublic and http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCGPLModuleLicense

And then I can actually resell it or redistrabute it. http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCDoesTheGPLAllowRequireFee and http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCDoesTheGPLAllowNDA

What if I hired a consultant and he built addon.  I pay him for it.  Shouldn't I own it (whole/just my changes)?  Nope.... doesn't matter. You might have paid for him time, but the OS GPL Community now owns that code (if it's publicially assessable).   Guess what, if I see it, and I know it's GPL, I can ask for it, source and binaries.

GPL was made so that no one can claim ownership of the code.  From the first alpha form to all it's mutations and children (very, very few exceptions. You have a slightly better chance getting a date with Julia Roberts).

Now i'm going to go to all the "featured" sites and see what cool functions I can cherry pick.  *** Note: It's code that I can cherry pick.  GPL doesn't mean I can grab their site.  I can grab all the code but they wouldn't have to give me the images, and the database data and structure. 

In the end, if you run a business. I'd be very worried to build features on top of GPL that give you a stragetic advantage in the marketplace since your competitors can ask for your code. Rather, I would like to see you contribute directly to the OS GPL development community since they'll own it anyhow. If that doesn't float your boat, you can just use the software, run your business and enjoy.  Just don't do anything more than what the GPL software provides.

Last two cents, personally, I would much rather has seen this software using Apache Software License or LGPL. More freedom to assert my changes are mine and I can do almost anything I want with it.