[ale] GPL Question.

[mainwizard at vei.net]

If you are playing this at home and you are modifying it for your own use=
 and no one else will ever see the modified code, then I think this would=
 fall under the "it's legal as long as you don't get caught" rule. BUT, i=
f you think that at any time someone other than yourself could come in co=
ntact with the altered code, you had best contact the copyright holder fo=
r permission and not rely on anyone elses interpretation of the GPL.
Ed.

----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Morris
Sent: 3/15/2004 6:20:42 PM
To: ale at ale.org
Subject: Re: [ale] GPL Question.

> Here is a code example of what I'm talking about...it's not removing th=
e=20
> copyright, just the DISPLAY of the copyright on rendered pages...notice=
=20
> right in the copyrigh notice, I can "redistribute it and/or modify it".=
=2E.
>=20
> <?php
> /**********************************************************************=
**/
> /* PHP-NUKE: Web Portal System                                         =
 */
> /* =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D                                          */
> /*                                                                     =
 */
> /* Copyright (c) 2002 by Francisco Burzi                               =
 */
> /* http://phpnuke.org                                                  =
 */
> /*                                                                     =
 */
> /* This program is free software. You can redistribute it and/or modify=
 */
> /* it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by=
 */
> /* the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License.      =
 */
> /**********************************************************************=
**/
>=20
> --- Snip irrelevant stuff here ---
>=20
> ###############################################
> # DO NOT REMOVE THE FOLLOWING COPYRIGHT LINE! #
> # YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REMOVE NOR EDIT THIS. #
> ###############################################
>=20
> // IF YOU REALLY NEED TO REMOVE IT AND HAVE MY WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION=20
> CHECK: http://phpnuke.org/modules.php?name=3DCommercial_License
> // PLAY FAIR AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE!
>=20
> echo "<META NAME=3D\"GENERATOR\" CONTENT=3D\"PHP-Nuke $Version_Num -=20
> Copyright 2003 by http://phpnuke.org\">\n";
>=20
> ?>
>=20
> still not sure of the answer....
>=20
> Thanks,
> Keith
>=20
> Jason Etheridge wrote:
>=20
> >> On Mon, Mar 15, 2004 at 04:25:53PM -0500, Keith Morris - IQ wrote:
> >>
> >>> But if I want to remove these sections, even though the code says I=
 must
> >>> ask for explicit permission from the author to remove this, doesn't=
 the
> >>> fact that it is being released under the GPL allow me to do whateve=
r I
> >>> want with this as long as I am not redistributing it?
> >>
> >> The GPL does *not* allow you to do whatever you want.  It is quite
> >> specific in what you can do.  Legally, the GPL is nothing more than =
a
> >> license saying what you can do with their copyrighted software.
> >>
> >> One may use copyrighted material only in ways that the copyright hol=
der
> >> allows.  Copying and altering are specifically forbidden unless the=20
> >> holder
> >> allows you to and then only on the holder's terms.  Removing a copyr=
ight
> >> notice is illegal and could subject you to fines of $250,000 or more=
=2E
> >=20
> >=20
> > I've heard it said many times that the GPL does not place any=20
> > restrictions on Use, only on Redistribution (whether you call that a =
use=20
> > or not).  I can buy a copyrighted painting and draw on it with crayon=
 if=20
> > I want to.  However, with software off the internet things get iffy,=20
> > because technically you have to Copy it just to get it, and thus are=20
> > subject to copyright restrictions and license agreements right from t=
he=20
> > start.
> >=20
> > Now, if the developers of this software are using the GPL and are als=
o=20
> > trying to require additional restrictions that go against the GPL (an=
d I=20
> > don't know if this is the case or not), then basically the license is=
=20
> > invalidated, and Keith doesn't have a right to copy the software at a=
ll,=20
> > much less use it.
> >=20
> > Just my opinion.  IANAL, etc.
> >=20
> > -- Jason
> >=20
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ale mailing list
> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>=20






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