Selling of CDs

sirio81, you are asking for a YES/NO answer to a general question, but using one specific example of proprietary software, but you don't have time to read the License Agreement??

I am not a lawyer. But I would suggest that you talk with a real lawyer. My gut feeling, for a single answer to your question is NO.

If you want to resell MEPIS then you will probably have to talk with Warren. Usually, the folks who have done something like that buy a CD from Mepis first, and then bill their friend/client for that amount. That way, Mepis/Warren is getting paid for his services. If, on the other hand, you want to download and give the CD away, that's another thing (I would suggest sending some money Warren's way eventually).

Now, if you then want to charge for your services of installing Skype, or any other package, I do not believe that there is any restrictions in any version of the GPL that prevents you from doing that.

Jon

No computer is magic, no operating system is magic, no website is magic. They all require human interaction, thought, and responsibility to work.

I don't want sell Mepis and sure I'll suggest to buy mepis from Warren because I realy appreciate their work.

My question is general because I'm not speaking about a specific software.Is better take for examply any Linux distribution.

The point is taht:
A distribution contains software under gpl license, and I know gpl allow to redistribute and re-sell software you received with that license.

A distribution contain also propietary softwares that are redistribute or sold with it.

So, who choosed the pachacke or:
1-verify that is possible to sell the propietary software
or
2-took agreement with the software owner for the selling perition.

My is only curiosity.
When I accept the license agreement i accept only one license. As I said before I didn't find the time to read it well , but, in few words, is an user teoricaly allowed to redistribute or sell the distribution?

I repeat that is not my goal to sell distributions but I want undertund what happen when propietay and free softare are mixed.

From my understanding you are not allowed to redistribute under MEPIS name anything, it's a matter of trademark.

As for proprietary packages on the CD, Warren got permission from the companies when the permission was needed. People who are interested to sell a CD containing a specific package need to read the package license or to contact the company and get permission to include it on the CD, that's what Warren did, however that doesn't transfer to people who bought or downloaded the CD, meaning that you can't take the package from MEPIS CD and have the same rights as Warren (we are talking about non-GPL software, for GPL software you have the same rights as everybody) unless of course the software, even if it's proprietary, it's free to be re-distributed. There are enough programs that are proprietary, but can be distributed freely -- again you need to read the specific license, it's useless to talk "in general".

Again, I'm not a lawyer, but I think this is common sense (although law and common sense don't mix most of the time)
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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Thankyou very much for the answer.
I wanted understund if I was able to re-distribute Linux distribution at my linux user group without risk any problem.
After I asked my self "what about selling" not because I whant to sell but if samebody ask me I didn't know what anser.

In synthesis, a distribution that contains Software freeware (propietary) can be re-distribuite (because the software is available for free download) but can't be sold (unless taking agreement and verify etc...).

A distribution with ONLY GPL software can be both.

Thanks again, bye!

In the case of redistributing purely GPL-ed distro's: don't forget that you have to make available the source code too. That's a REQUIREMENT....!

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

Yes, you can copy and give away Mepis CDs all you want, but you can't sell them without Warren's permission.

The applicable page is here:

http://www.mepis.org/node/1360

Hi all, I found the time for read well the license of mepis.
I have a question:

Except as specifically stated in a separate agreement, and subject to the Terms and Conditions stated herein, MEPIS LLC hereby grants you the right to install or redistribute this collective work for non-commercial purposes for use with other legally obtained MEPIS software collections.

reading that I undertund that:
I can't redistrubute mepis for commerical purpose (as we said before)
I can't use a downloaded copy of mepis in a company (this is anather thing)

Am I interpret it right?

Yes, you are correct. Commercial use -in the sense of NOT having paid for using Mepis commercially- is a no-no.

Regards, Ko

Ko Bros

More clarifications from Warren about what constitute commercial activity:
http://www.mepis.org/node/13345#comment-51058

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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Thanks for the detailed information.

May I suggest to write in the "Store" page (http://www.mepis.org/store) if with the CD/DVD/Download you buy, you'll have:
1-the propietary codec (mp3 etc) just included
2-the possibility of commercial use.

Bye.

1. you get that anyway.
2. I think that's self-understood, if you buy a product you can use it however you want (commercially/non-commercially)
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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

The first was just to undertund if the simple "contribute" allow the commercial use.

The second is because generally I explain to new users that the commercial distributions have the propietary drivers. So if they whant the comfort of everithing ready I suggest to buy a commercial distribution. I see that new users get lost when the player is not able to play music and movies.
I whanted understund if the Big DVD and value CD include them.

Sorry if I'm getting boring