I don’t believe Ubuntu binaries are redistributable

Posted Apr 23, 2025 16:13 UTC (Wed) by Wol (subscriber, #4433)
In reply to: I don’t believe Ubuntu binaries are redistributable by Wol
Parent article: EU OS: A European Proposal for a Public Sector Linux Desktop (The New Stack)

> The problem is if you take the Ubuntu version of your work, modify it again, then distribute it with Ubuntu trademarks intact. The GPL (*any* version) does not give you permission to ignore trademark law, and you're then guilty of "passing off", otherwise known as trade deception or fraud.

It's like the "This is all my own work" you're expected to sign off on on your University Dissertation. If your thesis properly attributes all the stuff you "nicked" from random places on the internet, then it's fine. If, however, you DON'T attribute stuff (even worse, *hide* the fact you nicked it), you're likely to get "sent down".

Trademarks are a "this is all my own work" declaration, and will land you in serious hot water if mis-used.

Cheers,
Wol