Re: Do I have to release the patch for a GPL software under GPL?

[Merijn de Weerd]

On 2006-05-05, Bernd Jendrissek <berndj@prism.co.za> wrote:
> In article <mailman.1491.1146854152.9609.gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org>
> Dancefire <dancefire@gmail.com> wrote:
>>and never release the modified Linux kernel to public, however, I want
>>to sell the kernel patch of the Linux to customers as whatever license
>>as I want, but I don?t want the patch under GPL for some reason. Can I?
>
> Your customers will have to apply the patch themselves.  If you give
> them an already patched kernel, you will have to release it to them with
> the GPL (modulo BSD-type parts of the kernel) covering the *whole*
> derived work, otherwise your redistribution will be in violation of the
> only licence you have to redistribute, the GPL (module BSDish and public
> domain parts).

In additions, your customers will not be able to distribute
the patched kernel themselves either. So even if you give them
just the patch, it won't be of much use to them. Well unless
they use the kernel for an internal computer. 

Merijn

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