Questions tagged [licenses]
Questions concerning the terms under which Unix & Linux software can be used and redistributed...
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1answer
42 views
What's the content of license that AT&T licensed Unix to third-party vendors?
Initially intended for use inside the Bell System, AT&T licensed Unix to outside parties in the late 1970s, leading to a variety of both academic and commercial Unix variants from vendors ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
Does Debian define what GPL compliance means for the purposes of packaging?
The GPL license speaks of "derivative works". Debian has taken the position that deterministically linking against a library with LD_PRELOAD does not make your program a derivative work. This allows ...
2
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0answers
247 views
Is NTFS proprietary and what does that mean? [closed]
Every source I can find says that NTFS is proprietary Microsoft code, but I can still find the specifications for it and open source drivers, like NTFS-3G, made by Tuxera. I can't find any record of ...
-4
votes
1answer
199 views
Linux distro without any GPL sofware? [closed]
I'm looking for a distribution that uses software that is actually free and allows commercial use too. It can be under MIT, BSD, Public Domain and similar licenses.
4
votes
1answer
157 views
When using arch/pacman, how to query a package's license?
Is it possible to only install free software packages in Arch Linux? Or perhaps to query a package's license before installing? I suppose you could use -Q to search for the text of a specific license, ...
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1answer
281 views
EOS - How to understand license agreement of Linux kernel derivative? [closed]
Background:
Software licensing generally mean, you don't own software, but you own the right to use it - a license to use it.
One criticism about EULA is that it is often pretty lengthy.
For ...
0
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1answer
73 views
Which companies are allowed to produce and sell Unix products?
Wikipedia shows Unix was first developed at the Bell Labs and later licensed to a few companies before its rights are finally sold to another company. What happened exactly with these licensing and ...
1
vote
1answer
388 views
Is it ok to use gcc to compile userspace binaries on FreeBSD 10?
I know that recently FreeBSD 10 dumped gcc in favour of clang due to licensing reasons (Ref).
I wanted to understand if this restriction to use clang is limited only to kernel compilation.
Can I use ...
32
votes
4answers
9k views
Can you legally sell modified versions of Linux distros? [closed]
Suppose somebody downloaded a Linux distro, like Ubuntu. Suppose further modify one piece of it, say the Window Manager.
Would it be perfectly legal for them to sell copies of this slightly modified ...
0
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1answer
19 views
Can I use JON plugin wthout subscription on RHQ?
I setup RHQ (not JON) and found repository
Can I setup and use plugin (example) servicemix4-plugin-7.5.1.redhat-630175.jar on RHQ?
Or only with subscription I can use this plugin?
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Copyright for unlicense debian machine readable format
For distributing youtube-dl I would like to add a minimal debian machine readable copyright file.
What should the copyright field have? It is licensed under unlicense.org
Format:http://www.debian....
4
votes
4answers
2k views
How do I find out the license for each of my installed applications/packages?
I am using Ubuntu-15.10.
I have installed many applications apart from vanilla installations.
Now, I would like to find out how many installed packages are licensed under the GPL or third-party ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Why did Unix become open source/free?
Why did the original Unix versions suddenly become open source/free? It seems odd that AT&T and Bell Labs would let something like an operating system become moldable and resellable with all of ...
7
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1answer
410 views
Does FreeBSD contain non-free software in its base?
I mean binary blobs compiled by third parties. Additionally if you do pkg install, are there non-free packages considered by default?
9
votes
1answer
973 views
How can semi-proprietary software be based on the Linux Kernel?
If I understand correctly, the Linux Kernel is licensed under the GPL, which means that if anyone bases anything on it, they have to also license the entire derivative work under the GPL, making ...
1
vote
0answers
42 views
Font license search
I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but over the years, I've collected many, many fonts, but some of them I am no longer sure if I have the right license to have it installed on my system, ...
4
votes
1answer
307 views
Do I have to publish kernel source if I release a custom kernel?
I have a kernel for an android phone ready for release. I always have the current source code already pushed to GitHub for release builds. However, I also have an experimental folder on my server ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
How can a package's license be determined using OPKG package manager?
OPKG is used as the package manager in an embedded Linux system. I would like to be able to determine the license of a package prior to installing the package. Is there a simple way to achieve this ...
7
votes
2answers
722 views
License of source code when the license is not indicated
When source code is released on the internet and neither a license nor a copyright notice is indicated, what is the code licensed under?
I can make a fork of the code?
27
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2answers
21k views
How to get information about deb package archive?
How to get information about .deb package archive?
Like: package information, version, installed-size, architecture, description and licensing information etc. from .deb package archive?
7
votes
2answers
7k views
GNOME license not accepted issue when system has been rebooted
GNOME Desktop has been installed on CentOS7 using sudo yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop" and when startx is executed the desktop starts. However, when the system reboots the following issue occurs:...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the right definition of FOSS? [closed]
I know that FOSS is the acronym for Free "and" Open Source Software.
Or does it mean Free "or" Open Source Software?
For example: to be considered FOSS, a program's license must be included in both ...
3
votes
3answers
390 views
About FreeBSD and GPL License
I have a question about Unix and Linux and their licenses.
If you choose to make an operating system based on the Linux kernel then you have to distribute it for free under the GPL License, but if ...
3
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1answer
75 views
Do I need to distribute the sources of the complete distribution under the GPL?
My plan is to sell an embedded computer, running a Linux distribution. I downloaded the binaries and installed them on the embedded computer.
Do I need to distribute the sources of the complete Linux ...
0
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0answers
154 views
Implications of including GPL software in a distribution?
It's well known that the FreeBSD project is actively trying to route out all traces of GPL'ed software in favor of more permissive-licensed software replacements.[1]
Their reasons are ambitious, ...
3
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1answer
122 views
Can I upload Knoppix kernel source to github?
I'd like to be able to browse the Knoppix source code for my learning reference without having to copy it to every machine I use.I'd also like to discuss it with classmates. As you know, pre-github ...
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1answer
372 views
RHEL 5 license for RHEL 6?
A few years ago We have bought a "Redhat Enterprise Linux 5 Server" license, we used that license only on offline servers.
Now we are migrating to a new system, we need to install RHEL 6 which will ...
4
votes
4answers
742 views
Can GPL software be bought by a company and still released as GPL? [closed]
Recently, I downloaded two fairly popular pieces of FOSS software. Both are licensed under the GPL and I downloaded them direct from the project Web site links via SourceForge. I was dismayed to find ...
0
votes
2answers
139 views
GNU/Linux licensing confusion
I am building a Gnu/Linux distribution. I am keeping the kernel open source but the desktop environment and the programs (the ones built by me) on top of it will be proprietary. Is it possible? The ...
0
votes
1answer
935 views
Commercial support for CentOS [closed]
As you know CentOS is taken over by RedHat, so i boils out couple of points as mentioned here.
Will CentOS remain complete free as it was(is) before(now)?
Can we expect upgrades of CentOS in future, ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Do I need a support contract to test my web application on solaris 10
I need to install Solaris 10 and I'm wondering if I need a support contract, on the download page it says that you need a support contract for production use, but I'm not too sure what production use ...
1
vote
2answers
219 views
Is the Minix 3 license GPL compatible?
Does anyone know if Minix 3's license is GPL compatible?
It's a BSD-style license, but I'm not entirely sure if it's compatible with the GPL.
Here is a link to the license: http://www.minix3.org/...
4
votes
1answer
556 views
Libre Coreboot payloads?
If one wishes to build an x86 server or workstation that is as de-blobbed and libre as possible, then the best one can do at this time is to use one of the fully free GNU/Linux distributions (...
2
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3answers
4k views
Free or non-free, what is the question? [closed]
I often read that some distributions contain non-free components while some other are "free".
As an end-user, I don't understand very well the difference between free and non-free distributions.
...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
Can Microsoft fonts be bought and included in the Linux core? [closed]
Is it possible for the Linux community to buy the rights for the Microsoft fonts so that they can be included in every distribution (or with distributions that would like to include them)?
Would ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
How to disable portage LICENSE checks
Whenever I install a package with an EULA, portage asks me to add it to package.license:
The following license changes are necessary to proceed:
(see "package.license" in the portage(5) man page for ...
0
votes
2answers
859 views
Can I name my own LFS distro?
The question is... about LFS (Linux From Scratch), if I would build a Linux system, with LFS, is it 100% mine? Could I say I made all this from scratch?
4
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3answers
6k views
Is Red Hat Linux licensed
Am confused so thought of asking a question.
According to this Red Hat Becomes Open Source’s First $1 Billion Baby, it is opensourced so my question is:
Where can I download the Opensource version? ...
2
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3answers
787 views
Is there a variation of Linux or Unix that does not require open licensing?
In the future I may be building a system with an embedded operating system. Given the commercial properties of this system, it will make sense to have all of the internals as closed source as possible....
3
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1answer
1k views
Is Linux kernel free to modify?
While browsing this site Text Files/Programming which contains historical data pertaining to programming and a lot of other stuff I came across this file Info sheet Linux
The file in question has a ...
3
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1answer
336 views
Does GPL mean that whole software is public? [closed]
I'm doing on one open-source application. Now I'm choosing it's license and I'm thinking about GPL.
But there I've got few questions:
Is anyone allowed to share modified program using same name?
Do ...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
If Mac OS X is UNIX, why is it that it is not open sourced and the license is proprietary?
If Mac OS X is a Unix, as answered in this question, why is it that it is not open sourced and the license is proprietary, as stated in this Wikipedia article?
According the the genealogy from this ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when Redhat says: “no more RHEL clones!”
I mean that ex.: CentOS, and Scientific-Linux are the "exact copies" of Redhat Linux. If Redhat would say one day: "I don't allow Redhat clones from now on, I will modify the licence", then what would ...
12
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2answers
3k views
Why does FreeBSD use the GPL-licensed GCC?
Why does FreeBSD use GCC as its default compiler?
I am under the impression that a core pillar of the FreeBSD philosophy is not to use any GNU software and in particular, GPL code.
Yet GCC which is ...
0
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2answers
453 views
Is FreeBSD license easier than Ubuntu/Fedora/CentOS/ArchLinux when it comes to GPL + Close source + Sell?
If I use FreeBSD/OpenSolaris, and stop using Ubuntu/Fedora/CentOS/ArchLinux, migrate my all applications to FreeBSD/OpenSolaris will that reduce license problems?
Specially, GPL/LGPL is very ...
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vote
3answers
477 views
Fedora, CentOS, Ubuntu Linux all are open source linux, but what about when i want to make my own brand from that?
I have used Fedora/Ubuntu/CentOS all of them, and they are open source linux, free to all users and free to do almost anything.
But i do not get this correctly yet. They are open source, and they ...
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2answers
451 views
Which linux is the most “free”? [closed]
I would like to make my very personal own linux baby, which is not to get whole world users get involved but myself to use it and do lots of experiment with it, so that when things does not work with ...
7
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2answers
3k views
Proprietary or Closed Parts of the Kernel
I've heard of lines of code that are distributed with the Linux Kernel that aren't open. Maybe some drivers or something like that.
I'd like to know how much of that is true? Are there lines of code ...
