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Xref: sserve gnu.misc.discuss:6451 comp.os.linux:12175 comp.unix.bsd:6307 Path: sserve!manuel.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!sgiblab!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!alpha.ces.cwru.edu!edguer From: edguer@ces.cwru.edu (Aydin Edguer) Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss,comp.os.linux,comp.unix.bsd Subject: Re: distributing linux on floppies Date: 8 Oct 1992 21:06:29 GMT Organization: Computer Engineering and Science, Case Western Reserve University Lines: 27 Message-ID: <1b27slINNj2f@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> References: <1992Oct7.040347.425@fcom.cc.utah.edu> <1992Oct7.164402.29427@uc.msc.edu> <1992Oct8.200527.1567@fcom.cc.utah.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: sentinel.ces.cwru.edu In article <1992Oct8.200527.1567@fcom.cc.utah.edu> terry@icarus.weber.edu writes: >In particular, the last sentence, "You may charge a fee for the physical >act of transferring a copy" prevents centralized distribution; this is >because only the distributor may make money; no money may be made from >at the retail outlet, unless the retail outlet provides direct support >or copy production facilities. The only other alternative is that the >company producing the copies pays the retailer per copy sold. This is >illegal in the US, and, I suspect, elsewhere (it's called a "kickback"). Excuse me, but where do you get your interpretation from? When the distributer sells a copy of software covered by the GPL to a retailer, they are transferring a copy. When the retailer sells a copy of software covered by the GPL to a customer, they are transferring a copy. Money can be made from the sale and distribution of software covered by the GPL. The important thing a distributor and retailer must keep in mind is that they must distribute the source code, or provide a method of obtaining the source code for up to three years, and that they cannot limit the redistribution of the software. If a local user group wants to purchase a copy of the distribution and sell duplicates for less than the retailer or distributor, the retailer or distributor may not stop them from competing. Aydin Edguer Lost as usual