Re: Question reguarding GNU FDL license

[David Kastrup]

Alexander Terekhov <terekhov@web.de> writes:

> "Alfred M. Szmidt" wrote:
> [...]
>> license that disallows charging a fee for copying is not free in any
>> sense of the word.
>
> How come that the GNU GPL, which prohibits charging a fee *for copying* 
> (see "no charge"), is considered "free" by GNUtians?

Oh, the alternate Terekhov universe again.

In mine, the GPL reads:

(clause 1)

    You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy,
    and you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange
    for a fee.

What you are referring to is:

    2b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
    whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any
    part thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third
    parties under the terms of this License.

The "no charge" clause is for _licensing_, not for _copying_.  You may
_not_ hand somebody a copy for whatever price and tell him "and if you
pay me $50 more, I'll license this copy under the GPL to you".

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum