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Single-company free software
Single-company free software
Posted Oct 11, 2005 16:37 UTC (Tue) by jwb (subscriber, #15467)In reply to: Single-company free software by szoth
Parent article: Single-company free software
The GPL is not a shrink-wrap license, and it is unlike almost any other commercial software license. The GPL grants you extra rights you do not normally have. If you don't agree to the GPL, you don't have the extra rights. Most licenses, including shrink-wrapped EULAs, take away rights you normally have. The difference between the two is fundamental.
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Single-company free software
Posted Oct 14, 2005 0:49 UTC (Fri) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link]
If you don't agree to the GPL, you don't have the extra rights.Small technical correction: GPL is not a contract (aka agreement), ergo, there's nothing to agree to. What you mean is that if you don't perform the conditions of the GPL, you don't have the extra rights.
The difference is one of timing: in a contract, you agree to it and then can be forced to perform (by the person with whom you agreed) at a later date. With a license condition, you perform the condition, and then you have the license. You have no future commitment. There's nothing to breach.