Distribution of Free Software - Is this legal?

Conrad11 · 1 Mar 2008 at 16:30

Hi there,

I am creating an application which i want to distribute.

I want to include some files of two other free pieces of software which my software depends on in my installer and have them put in the same directory of my application. I will not be altering the files, but not all the files will be installed and they will not be installed from the applications installer, they will be installed through my applications installer.

Is this legal? One of the pieces of software is "GPL-licensed" + the other doesn't seem to have a licence with it.

GPL states this (i think):

* the freedom to use the software for any purpose,
* the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors,
* the freedom to change the software to suit your needs, and
* the freedom to share the changes you make.

...so i am guessing that piece of software is ok to use?

My software will be distributed free btw.

Thanks for any info.

crazyDAJT · 1 Mar 2008 at 17:28

I don't know the legal grounds, but i would think it would be polite to ask the owners, if you can distribute it with your program.

can't be any harm in that.

but i would assume it would be ok, isn't that the whole point in GPL.

Cosimo · 1 Mar 2008 at 17:37

On the GPL side you could email them to confirm, here [email protected] , they do reply quickly.

As to the other software I would check with the author/owner.

Conrad11 · 1 Mar 2008 at 17:41

Cheers peeps, will email the author + gpl now (should have done that in the first place :/)