[Samba] query

[John Benedetto]

GPL is the Gnu General Public License (since you called Samba 'freeware', I 
wondered if you are aware of some of what Andrew mentions,such as 'Free 
Software' <--- note capitalization, or the GPL...)

You can find info on the GPL @ http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html (At 
least, I am assuming this will work for what Andrew was talking about; if 
not, please correct me).

- john

--On Friday, March 08, 2002 10:40 PM +1100 Andrew Bartlett 
<abartlet at pcug.org.au> wrote:

> surya.prasad at iflexsolutions.com wrote:
<SNIP>
>> Samba being a freeware, how does it affect licensing our product? Are
>> there any legal / commercial issues?
>> Do I need to acknowledge usage of this component as part of our
>> licensing?
</SNIP>
>
> Samba is Free Software, and as such provides you with the important
> freedom to use it commercially as you see fit.  However, you must also
> provides the same freedoms to your users - you downloaded Samba a source
> and packaged it for your setup.  You must provide your users with the
> same, the Samba sources you used, and the scripts that build and install
> it on your system.  This is most simply done by including it all in a
> tarball on the end of your installation/documentation CDROM.  If you
> chose not to, you must include a written offer to provide the same - so
> putting it on the CD is much easier.
>
> As to acknowledgment:  While nice (and helpful to users who need to
> track down issues etc) the only acknowledgment required is the source
> and copyright statement (Printing the GPL in the back pages of a manual
> is a nice touch).
>
> This is not a legal interpretation, and I am only one of many copyright
> holders - you should seek legal advise if you feel the situation is at
> all unclear.  Also, the GPL is a very readable document - well worth the
> time spent doing so.
>
> Andrew Bartlett
>