"Selling" GPL software

**Chris 96 WS6** · 01-18-2007, 02:36 PM

I recently bought a little PHP scripts site. So now I'm on the lookout for unique scripts to sell.

I'm running into a disturbing trend though. Lots of folks out there advertise "85 scripts for $5" and things like that, with "full resale rights".

The only problem is these .zips are full of GPL freeware scripts, like OScommerce. Then when asked, they claim that the GPL says it is OK to charge a download fee.

When I've requested proof of resale rights I get all kinds of responses, including cut & paste of license boilerplate with no contextual relevance to the actual products.

That's fine, but they don't advertise it as such. I don't think you can in good conscience charge a sales price for a piece of software that is GPL and is available 100% free (w/o a download fee BTW) elsewhere on the 'net.

I think it lacks truthfulness, even if only by omission. I'm frustrated and I guess I'll just have to find my own sources for "original" scripts.

Just wondering what the legalities are? I don't see that there are really any consequences to it, as there's not really anybody out there to go after folks like this.

**Cyberworkspace** · 01-18-2007, 04:10 PM

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

it is a common misconception, that software that is made available by gpl is in any way permitted from being sold.

it is the marketplace that should regulate any misbehaviour and then again there is the theory of the bigger fool. if anyone is really that dumb to pay for gpl scripts, then it is only social darwinism if his funds go into the pockets of someone who is more intelligent than him.

if those people however do not declare their income properly it would be a case for the irs. and those are some folks interested in going after them too

**Chris 96 WS6** · 01-18-2007, 04:29 PM

I guess my point is these script sellers don't exactly volunteer the fact that their zips are full of GPL scripts, and by stating "full resale rights" I think they imply that the scripts are something other than freeware.

Legal? Sure. Less than honest? Hmm....

**Cyberworkspace** · 01-18-2007, 06:10 PM

no doubt about it, those guys are scum as anyone is who participates in scams.

but then again, as much as i am for customer rights, there is the freedom of contracts. there should be some awareness on side of the customer that makes him check the offer. if he does not get suspicious to get 85 scripts for 5$ he probably does not want to ask and is maybe even not too much interested in the source of the software and the fact that some developer is being betrayed of his intellectual property.

people are greedy and that makes them do the most foolish things. it is hard to sell values like honesty these days to the customer, but an honest business has at least all the fundamentals to stay in business for a long time.

**chrisranjana** · 01-20-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech”, not as in “free beer”.

I believe you could charge for your services as long as you have done some modifications to an open source scripts and also if you provide some extra services like installation , customizations etc