On Sun, Feb 06, 2011 at 05:06:38AM -0500, Oli Glaser wrote:
> On 06/02/2011 09:49, Wouter van Ooijen wrote:
> >> Interesting thread here - would need to look more closely, but it seem=
s
> >> the whole thing is based on GNU open source, so MC may be rather out o=
f
> >> order for charging ~=A3800 for not much more than repackaging and
> >> distributing it...
> > How would they be out of order? Specifically, which clause of the GPL d=
o
> > they violate? IMHO none.
> >
>=20
> I'm not sure (hence the use of "may") as I'm no expert on the GPL=20
> license. I also didn't necessarily mean "legally" out of order.


> I thought that under the terms of the GPL it was not legal to charge for=
=20
> the code under that license but legal to charge for the cost of=20
> distributing it or something along those lines (not sure what it says=20
> about "unreasonable" distribution charges though).

Two separate issues. You can sell programs. You can charge a reasonable
cost to deliver the source code. What you cannot do is say that the program
is free but it'll cost you $1,000,000 to get the source.

> I'm sure they have covered themselves legally, but legal doesn't always=20
> equal ethical - the folk discussing it on the thread seem to think it=20
> was maybe a bit "cheeky", though as I said, I would have to look more=20
> closely to come to any conclusion.

Actually the model isn't too bad. Microchip just needs to be happy that a
group hasn't done a purchase, requested and received the source, then
redistributed it for free yet.

Having a free LITE version will sweep out most with objections. Any
professional that pays for the premium version isn't very likely to want to
share. So it works out for all involved.

BAJ

>=20
>=20
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--=20
Byron A. Jeff
Department Chair: IT/CS/CNET
College of Information and Mathematical Sciences
Clayton State University
http://cims.clayton.edu/bjeff
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