[Gllug] GPL & Licence Fees

[John Winters]

> So the only way an annual charge would make sense is if it is for a
> service.

I've been thinking about this and I think there's one other way you could
have an annual charge.

Say I've taken an existing GPLed package and modified it slightly to give
it an extra feature which you need.  I haven't distributed the package yet
so I am under no obligation to let you have either the binary or the
source.  You ask me to sell you a copy and I say it'll cost you £1000. 
You counter that you haven't got £1000 so I offer it to you for five
annual payments of £200.  Provided you agree to the terms of this deal
then you've entered into a contract and are indeed obliged to make the
five payments, even though the software which I've delivered to you is
GPLed and you are free to distribute it on to other parties.  Of course
it's your contract with me that requires the payments and not anything to
do with the GPL.

The interesting thing is that you could then pass on the software to
whoever you pleased, but this freedom wouldn't release you from your
contractual obligation.

John

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