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Thread ID: 48954 2004-09-06 03:23:00 Can I distribute any Linux Distro freely? willie_M (5608) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
269635 2004-09-06 03:23:00 Hey guys,

I was wondering if I could replicate and sell the versions of linux that are payed for such as Lycoris, Xandros and the Pro versions of Linux.

I understand that linux being free is not necesarily for free of cost, but freedom.

Cheers
willie_M (5608)
269636 2004-09-06 03:57:00 Nope - Certain Liscence agreements prevent the distribution and redistribution of binary formats at Zero cost. You can probably get the source for these and distribute the source code however!


Chill.
Chilling_Silence (9)
269637 2004-09-06 04:00:00 eh waht? That was kind of confusing the way you formed that stement chill... willie_M (5608)
269638 2004-09-06 04:35:00 Read the GPL . :D It covers what you can do and not do . It is contained as a file "COPYING" with all software covered by it . Including that file is a condition of the licence . Some of the retail packages contain non-GPL applications . Copying those is not "free" .

You can make copies of their freely downloadable distributions and sell them at a reasonable prioce to cover the costs . I am sure that if you copy a retail copy containing non-GPL, licenced applications, you will get into (expensive) trouble) .

As far as the "Linux OS" goes, they are selling the support they offer their customers . If you want to get rich on their efforts, remember that while people will pay moderate copying charges, they won't pay you retail prices for NO support .

If you can match the support the commercial vendors offer, make your own distribution and put your name on it . You certainly can't sell a straight copy at full "retail" price as "Lycoris" (e . g) because that's their trademark .

Have a look at www . copyleft . co . nz and see how Philip runs his business .

But there are lot of people doing this . Look at trademe . There are probably easier ways to get rich . Start a religion . ;-)
Graham L (2)
269639 2004-09-06 07:46:00 There are probably easier ways to get rich .
> Start a religion . ;-)
>
>
>

So true, But my thats a big coat .
drb1 (4492)
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