How does the GPL affect the licensing and selling of software? |
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EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Scott Nathan
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QUESTION POSED ON: 09 July 2004
When a copyright holder licenses their software under a GNU General
Public Licence, does this affect their entitlement to license the
software to another third party and to sell modifications to that
software?
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The GNU GPL protects the legal right of a copyright holder to continue to
distribute or alter what belongs to them by obligating each licensee to
display all applicable copyright notices prominently. However, the "secret
formula" for software is the source code and the GPL requires that any
software licensed under the GPL be accompanied by a copy of the source code.
As a practical matter, therefore, distribution of the software under the GPL
could diminish its market value.
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