Re: embedded emc and GPL

["Pete Cook" <kf2qd-at-terraworld.net>]

An thus the ability to purchase (for a fee) NON-GPL libraries so your code
does not fall under the GPL. One is not required to use the GPL'd libraries
to write code for Linux, it just costs less and is rather convenient.

Pete
>
> Hi Paul
>
> > The GPL license does not in any way restrict a commercial use of GPL'd
> > software. If you read the terms, it quite clearly states that you
> > are free to
> > modify and redistribute any derived works for any fee - As long
> > as you give
> > the customer access to the source code. The one thing you may not
> > do is claim
> > copyright or change the terms of the license.
>
> Of course you are right, but it is a known fact, that many commercial
> developers avoid GPL'd software, because it forces one to make your whole
> sorce code publicy available (aka "virus effect"). This indeed _is_ a
> restriction: As most commercial software is (still) closed-sourced, GPL'd
> stuff cannot be used for most commercial software. For example, we are a
> small software company, developing CAM systems and frontends for CNC-like
> machines. We use some programming techniques and algorithms that make our
> software superior to our competitors in this special market segment. I see
> no problem with giving source code to our customers (but mostly, they are
> not interested in getting source code, as long as the program works as
> expected, and they don't have programmers anyway), but making the source
> publicy available would only lead to our competitors downloading the thing
> and sell it theirselves. So (unfortunately) closed-source software is the
> key for us to survive in this small market (unless we grow as big as SUN
or
> IBM maybe). Also, as our source code often reflects informations about the
> internal processes the customer is using, the customer himself often
forces
> us to sign non-disclosure agreements and the like which would not comply
> with the public nature of GPLed software.
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Markus
>
>
>