Re: Circumventing the GPL

[Hyman Rosen]

John Hasler wrote:
> The sale is then no longer an arms-length transaction.
> A US Federal judge will see right through the subterfuge
> and tell A that it is a distributor.

Why does it have to be arms-length? Where is the subterfuge?

A software developer is perfectly free to enter an arrangement
whereby he agrees *not* to distribute software. If the software
is GPLed, he cannot require recipients not to distribute, but
he is free to choose not to distribute his own software, and to
accept payment for doing so.