On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 15:35:33 -0700, William H Lugg <wlugg@falconbroadband.net> wrote:
How about this. I'mworking on a project for the Air Force that is planning on taking the SuSE distro, weeding out the stuff that isn't needed (games, office apps, etc.), adding our in-house developed app and DB and repackage it for distribution to various sites (Military bases) for use. The plan is to use YaST to do the installation of our app and DB as well as the standard stuff.
Our current take is that we need to hold a purchased SuSE license for each site that will use the app. Is this correct?
No. The SuSE software you have in mind is freely distributable.
Where could I go to get a warm and fuzzy on the correct approach from a legal perspective? I've looked at the GPL and some other info on the SuSE site, but have trouble getting past the legal mumbo jumbo.
The legal question revolves around your app and DB, and whether or not they derive from any GPL licensed software. Simply compiling your app with gcc does not mean it is "derived" from GPL software. Take NetBSD as a case in point; they use a GPL (gcc) compiler toolchain, but their NetBSD source code retains the BSD license, not encumbered by the GPL. But if you want to feel warm and fuzzy, find a good copyright lawyer and pay him for advice; IANAL.