Thread: Confirmed/CAUTION: N900 Ovi Apps require Corporation + $1M USD Corporate General Liability Insurace
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jaark is offline jaark
2009-11-20 , 14:24
Posts: 316 | Thanked: 150 times | Joined on May 2006
#115
Originally Posted by sharper View Post
I guess it depends on how you define "rare". For example there are multiple distributions of Linux that you can pay money for - this is typically for a nice boxed version and support but you're paying for it anyway.
Yes, there is also often some bundled software in there also. That is a different issue, bundling GPLd software with others. It's totally fine, the GPL components are still subject to the GPL and people are free to do with what they will. IIRC, Centos takes RedHat enterprise distro, strips out the non-free stuff and uses that as their distro (OK, they do a bit of extra work and tweaking but that's the core)

Another example is Code Weavers that sells productised versions of WINE http://www.codeweavers.com/
Again, different license. Codeworks and Cedega forked Wine before WineHQ moved to a GPL license - the license it was on previously allowed the two companies to do what they want, including sell it as a closed source product.


Your example was GIMP with a polished UI. AFAIK, GIMP is licensed under the GPL so your resulting version will be subject to the GPL.
Both of your examples involve software under non-GPL licenses.

"Make this work on an N900" is an example of a narrow requirement.
As ewan said, this can be done by someone or a group for a contract or bounty. If you hire them in the right way, the copyright on the resulting modifications could be yours but the whole product would still be subject to the GPL (if you started or included GPL source, that is!)