is selling freeware legal if there are no licenses or copyrights? please give me sources. I would like to sell hard to find freeware solutions online but I would first like to know if it is legal to, and how it can be legal (cd or direct download)
2007-11-13 16:14:30 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You need to read the software license that accompanies the specific freeware programs you wish to distribute. In general, this is prohibited and would open you up to litigation. Some vendors don't care, but definitely read the license agreements.
It's also a good idea to obtain written permission.
2007-11-13 16:18:22 · answer #1 · answered by mdigitale 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to be careful of licenses. Some freeware is given out for free o a CONDITION that it will not be sold.
Some freeware is licensed under GPL [1], which DOES allow commercial distribution.
Talk to a lawyer before embarking on a serious business venture.
2007-11-14 00:49:51 · answer #2 · answered by hq3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ALL software is copyright. The author may not have registered his copyright, but he still has it.
You can't legally sell someone else's copyright material without their permission, even if it's freeware.
The issue of "compilation" disks that are often sold has been judged both ways in different courts, though, depending on whether the price charged is reasonable as being just a compilation and disribution fee, and as long as it is made CLEAR that the software itself is free.
Richard
2007-11-14 00:21:32 · answer #3 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me get this straight.
Someone worked their butt off to publish good code, and you want to sell that for a profit?
Copyrights or no, you are a sleazebag.
Why not compile them all together on a website, offer them for free, as intended, and if you are popular enough you can sell advertising space.
2007-11-14 00:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by powhound 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋