On Thu, 27 Jul 2000, Matt Sergeant wrote:
> I wrote:
> > What's wrong with the GPL? It's open-source and free of cost.
> > What more do you want?
>
> The ability to build commercial applications.
The GPL allows you to use and incorporate GPL'd software into
commercial applications. However, if you *modify* the GPL'd
software, you *must* make said modifications freely available
under the GPL also. If you don't modify it, there is no issue.
Also, just because a piece of code is GPL'd does *not* preclude
the author from granting *separate* commercial licenses. As
the author for HTML Tree, I can grant as many any additional
licenses under any terms I please.
For example, if you wanted to use HTML Tree *and* make
*proprietary* modifications, I'd be happy to charge you a
licensing fee. However, again, merely *using* GPL'd software
*as-is* requires so such additional license.
Please re-read the GPL. FYI: I've also had correspondence with
the FSF on such issues and the above is correct.
- Paul
