joongpark Posted October 6, 2002 Share Posted October 6, 2002 Hi...I read the GPL and open source rules but having hard time understanding. I need your help :( I am opening a Webdesign company specializing in Online Shop. I think OsCommerce is the best solution for my company since I can customize it. I still don't know what are the basic rule I have to follow. Can someone tell me some of the basic rules I have to follow in plain english? Is is regal to use OsCommerce as a solution and charge for instalation, graphic design? Do I have to tell my client that I am using OsCommerce? Is it ok to change layout of the pages to make it look better? I don't think everyone wants to have same main page. Do I have to show copyright to Oscommerce message on the site? Please there are many more things I would like to know..please give me some advises so I don't end up getting sued :( Thank you so much for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan0815 Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 Is is regal to use OsCommerce as a solution and charge for instalation, graphic design? Yes. Do I have to tell my client that I am using OsCommerce? Legally speaking - no. BUT: You should at least indicate that your solution is licensed under the terms of the GPL. ANd you have no way of distributing a derivative work based on osCommerce under any other license. If you do that you would be violating the GPL. You must also leave all copyright notices in all source code files intact. So as soon as your customer looks at the sources he will notice the osCommerce copyright and you will get into trouble. Conclusion: Tell upfront what you are using. If you don't like that idea than osCommerce is not a good solution for you. Is it ok to change layout of the pages to make it look better? I don't think everyone wants to have same main page. The GPL allows you to do whatever you like woth osCommerce. Change the layout, change the sources but do never touch the copyright statements in the sources. Do I have to show copyright to Oscommerce message on the site? Not on the site, but you may not change the copyright notices in the source files. There is a proposal to inculde a copyright statement on all admin pages but that notice will only be shown to shop owners/admins. Please there are many more things I would like to know..please give me some advises so I don't end up getting sued :( We are no lawyers, so don't expect answers that will garantuee to you that you won't get sued. My personal advice: Tell your customers that you are using GPLed solutions. Explain to them what that means. Hand out a written copy of the GPL with your contracts and ask us if you have specific problems. HTH You can't have everything. That's why trains have difficulty crossing oceans, and hippos did not adapt to fly. -- from the OpenBSD mailinglist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humaneasy Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 If did not yet :D See also http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24580 and http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24263 and http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24518 and finally http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23230 Those topics touch almost all your doubts with lots of *argue* and some *enlightment* to us all, we hope ;) Good reading and contact a Copyright Specialist Lawyer so he can help you in making a "Contract Model" that include the necessary legal mentions to GPL and/or other copyright issues. For instance, in Portugal if no mention is made in the contract agreement the Law defines that in ALL software made for a specific client the copyright belongs automaticaly to him and not to the producer ;( Contact your National Authors Association and ask for help and guidance. Best regards, 8) Lopo If I helped you, you can help others too. Search Affero Network. Thanks :) -- moving mentalities >> fast forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humaneasy Posted October 23, 2002 Share Posted October 23, 2002 Still about this. I was visiting the Lindows site seeking about some info on how they plan to go along with GPL and in the middle of it I was redirected to a GNU's FAQ. Just for curiosity I read some parts and one makes me wonder. It's about what was much discussed related with output from osCommerce. http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCGPLOutput What do you think about it? 1, Lopo If I helped you, you can help others too. Search Affero Network. Thanks :) -- moving mentalities >> fast forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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