[wplug] GNU GPL License

[Bruno Pierri Galvao]

If my code modifications have bugs then that is a major security risk so I
would have to keep my code modifications closed under a company copyright
license. How can I do this? I was talking to a friend and he said that there
is a fine line, one can add code in a way that does not affect the GPL code
and therefore does not have to be filed under that license. Would you know
of such a way?
-thanks
bruno

On Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 6:01 PM, Yaakov Nemoy <loupgaroublond at gmail.com>wrote:

> 2009/10/13 Bruno Pierri Galvao <vendicate at gmail.com>:
>
>  If I would like to start an online business and not reinvent the wheel,
>> then
>> could I use a GPL Licensed work with my own added modifications?
>>
>> For example, if I think I can create a better version of eBay and there is
>> a
>> GPL licensed eBay look-alike script. Could I take this script, add
>> modifications and start a business? Of course the code would be unseen to
>> the public for security reasons but if one were to investigate the code
>> then
>> they would see that we have left the GNU GPL copyrights in the code and
>> copyrighted our modifications.
>> I am confused.
>>
>
> The simple answer is yes. The GPL covers the copying and redistribution of
> the binaries and/or the source code. It does not cover use of the software,
> which is more or less how web applications and other services are looked at.
> If your business model included selling this code to other parties, you
> would have to include the source code.
>
> The better question though is how do you want to interact with the
> upstream? There's a good chance you'll find a bug in the original project
> that you will want to fix. Some bugs will affect your add on code, but some
> bug fixes might be useful to anyone who uses the original GPL code. Sending
> the fixes to the upstream developers will help you build a better
> relationship with the upstream people. They may be sympathetic to your goals
> too. In the end, when they also make fixes, you'll be able to benefit from
> it. There are alot of benefits to doing this.
>
> (This is assuming there is an active upstream, of course. But it's just
> something to think about before you do business with GPL software. There are
> good ways to do it, and there are really awesome ways to do it.)
>
> Best of luck with your business venture.
>
> -Yaakov
>
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