A license is the copyright terms under which a piece of software or other creative work is distributed. This describes how end users are allowed to legally use, modify, or distribute the works of others.
68
votes
10answers
6k views
Can I legally build and sell desktops with Ubuntu pre-installed?
I'm starting a business and this is part of what I'm going to be offering. I'm almost complete with my certification in Linux Administration, but I don't know all of the ins and outs of the law Linux ...
37
votes
6answers
3k views
Is there a difference between free software and open source software?
Well I am a bit confused with the two terms, are there differences between them?
20
votes
2answers
1k views
Will Skype be removed from the Canonical Partner repository? [closed]
I just learned that Microsoft has taken over Skype.
Will this affect the availability of Skype in the Canonical Partner repository?
19
votes
1answer
546 views
Why are some programs in the Ubuntu Software Center not open source?
I'm concerned about the amount of proprietary software that seems to be part of Ubuntu now. I've noticed quite a few apps that in the software center are listed as "Licence: proprietary".
Obviously ...
17
votes
2answers
208 views
How to comply with this guideline for submitting an application to the Software Center?
I was reading through the Ubuntu Developer Programme Agreement for submitting applications to the Software Center and stubled across the following clause:
3.1 You must first test Apps you submit ...
16
votes
7answers
986 views
Under what license is Ubuntu? Can it be legally modified and distributed?
What license does Ubuntu fall into (GPL, MIT, a mix)? Would it be legal to modify it and redistribute my modified version?
16
votes
2answers
5k views
How do I use GPL and MIT licenses correctly?
Since our own Alaukik asked me to put a few scripts under GPL-License I wondered if I am doing it correctly. The points that concern me are:
Do I have to include the whole license with my project or ...
13
votes
3answers
3k views
Embed Ubuntu font on any web page
Considering licences like:
http://font.ubuntu.com/ufl/FAQ.html
how can I use Ubuntu font family on any website without making user to install it?
Any chance of using it with tools like: ...
13
votes
4answers
344 views
What are the legal consequences of customizing the LiveCD?
the organization I work at wants to create a custom Ubuntu LiveCD, the customizations are: Pre-installed programs, plugins, some device drivers, and aesthetics such as icons and backgrounds, as well ...
12
votes
5answers
377 views
Why isn't a license shown when installing (and when installing most software)?
As a former Windows user I was used to accepting EULA's and other licenses when installing any piece of software, or when installing the whole OS. On Ubuntu it happens extremely rarely (I've met it ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I use the ubuntu font in a commercial logo design?
I've been looking into using the Ubuntu typeface for a logo. The logo is for a web site unrelated to ubuntu and open source software. I'm wondering whether the license allows this, and if so, ...
9
votes
2answers
895 views
Under what license can I use /usr/share/dict/words?
There are a few dictionaries on my system,
/usr/share/dict/words
/usr/share/dict/american-english
/usr/share/dict/british-english
/usr/share/dict/ngerman
...
and so on.
How are these files ...
8
votes
1answer
123 views
If I've signed the Canonical Contributors agreement, do I have to sign the new Harmony Agreement?
The contributors agreement has changed to a broad license harmony agreement. Do I need to resign the new agreement or is it automatic. Does anything prevent me from signing the new agreement and using ...
7
votes
1answer
340 views
Why don't I have to accept a EULA when installing Adobe Flash Player?
The Adobe Flash Player has a quite restrictive EULA but it is not presented to the user when he installs it. Isn't the user obliged to accept it, before using it? Maybe some users would refuse using ...
6
votes
3answers
229 views
Can I use the Ubuntu logo on t-shirts produced non-comercially? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it possible to create Ubuntu Shirts ( Merchandise )
Is it permited to use(print) Ubuntu logo on a "Ubuntu users group" T-shirt which is not sold public but to the ...
5
votes
2answers
690 views
Under which licence is Unity available? Is it protected by any copyright or patents?
I mean under which license is the source code available? I'm not sure if Unity is free software
5
votes
1answer
311 views
Can I use the Ubuntu font in a proprietary application?
Huge Ubuntu fan here, I really like the Ubuntu font, but as far as I know you may only use it in open-source applications. I want to use it in an iPhone/iPad app. Due to Apple's contracts, I can't ...
5
votes
1answer
128 views
Can I use Ubuntu font in my commercial software running on Windows CE?
I'm now making commercial software for Windows CE O/S, and I want to embed Ubuntu font to my software. The file format will be converted to my own format to speed up my software.
In this case, am I ...
4
votes
1answer
192 views
Does the Software Centre provide a DRM/licensing scheme?
Does Ubuntu's Software Centre include a DRM/licensing mechanism so that applications can only be installed and run by the people who purchase them?
I'm thinking of something similar to Apple's where ...
4
votes
2answers
127 views
License concerns for Ubuntu/Linux and a prospective business
Having a hard time finding specifics, could someone link me to some materials concerning licensing issues of Ubuntu, and link's at large?
I'm considering starting a business installing ...
4
votes
2answers
129 views
How to reject an EULA when installing packages with apt?
I wanted to install ubuntu-restricted-extras with apt, but they include ttf-mscorefonts-installer, for which I must accept an EULA license. I don’t want to, but I can't find a way to reject it. There ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
To use the license of Ubuntu Font face, what specifically i have to cite in my website?
I want to use the fonts available in http://font.ubuntu.com/ in my personal website, but I dont know what text I have to include in "Legal Information & Notices" section of my website. I have ...
4
votes
0answers
29 views
commercial redistribution of ubuntu [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Under what license is Ubuntu? Can it be legally modified and distributed?
i'm making a custom ubuntu bootable live cd image by uck.
it includes some script and native ...
3
votes
3answers
303 views
What is the Deal with the Copyrights Issue of Ubuntu and Canonical
I just came across this post via Hacker News and wonder what is all the fuss about?
Ubuntu will always be free, right? That is a promise no one is intending to break. More than that, The Ubuntu ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Can I legally use Ubuntu Server to create a commercial web application on Amazon EC2?
Based on Wikipedea Ubuntu is covered mainly by GNU GPL. In my company anything related to GPL means - can't be used, they are very afraid of legal traps related to GPL.
That's why I have this ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Can I use publish an application using SDL, even commercially? [closed]
I wrote a game in Windows a while back, and I'd like to port it to finish it under Ubuntu, especially as I could publish it via the software centre. However, It's written in C/++ and OpenGL, with SDL ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
How to list all my packages from command line which can show package name, license, source url, etc?
How to get all the installed package list with there license, source url? Such as following only shows name of the package only.
$ dpkg --get-selections
acpi-support install
acpid ...
3
votes
1answer
31 views
Can I provide Ubuntu virtual image as a appendix of book?
I work for a publishing company. We are planning to publish a book about web development, and we are going to create web applications in Ubuntu environment. But we are now considering web development ...
2
votes
2answers
86 views
How to add licensing to Ubuntu Application?
I am developing a commercial app for Ubuntu Software Center. Since it is commercial, I do not want users can simply copy/download the app from somewhere else and put it into PCs without buying it ...
2
votes
1answer
176 views
Can I create a proprietary application using Qt?
I am using Qt4 to build an application and for some reason I want to keep it proprietary. Qt4 is released under LGPL, does that force me to release the code to my application. I ask this question ...
2
votes
2answers
981 views
How does the Ubuntu license work for commercial use? Do we have to follow the LGPL or the GPL?
I have an Ubuntu computer. Once Ubuntu starts I use my applications, such as: driving school exams, learning, practical use, and studying.
Now, I am preparing license documentation. If I use Ubuntu ...
2
votes
1answer
632 views
Activate Office 2010 running in PlayOnLinux with a KMS server
Is it possible to activate a volume licensed copy of Microsoft Office installed using PlayOnLinux with my organisation's Key Management server?
The installation with PlayOnLinux worked flawlessly but ...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
Using humanity system icons for created application
I just wanted to know if is illegal to publish and share an application that loads a humanity system icon as default .desktop?
Thanks :)
-Mariano
2
votes
0answers
37 views
Which free software license does Ubuntu use? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Under what license is Ubuntu? Can it be legally modified and distributed?
I would like to know which free software License does Ubuntu use for its releases.
1
vote
2answers
152 views
Does a company writing C++ apps have to share its source code if it calls unmodified QT or Ubuntu libraries?
What is the relationship between Ubuntu and QT and Canonical? The coming Ubuntu phone looks interesting. Ubuntu seems to be interwoven with QT. If my company wants to write commercial C++ apps ...
1
vote
2answers
72 views
Can I add Ubuntu fonts to website? What are licenses of those?
Basically I would like to use on website a "Norasi" font, that was bundled with Ubuntu, but I cannot find any license. Am I allowed to distribute that font through website? What is its license?
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Why is the JDEE package in multiverse?
Why is the Java Development Environment for Emacs package in the multiverse repository? The software is available under the GPL.
1
vote
1answer
33 views
GNU LESSER GPL vs GNU GPL [duplicate]
I want to know the difference between GNU Lesser GPL and GNU GPL. If I modify a free and open source software and sell it to a customer, do I have to share my modifications with the community as well? ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Why does Ubuntu One for Android use nonfree libraries?
Ubuntu One for Music source code on launchpad contains libGoogleAnalytics.jar which is proprietary. The license declares Gnu Affero Gpl license. Is this legal and why is it done?
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Is Creative Commons a recoginsed license?
I would like to package an application that uses Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0:
http://www.gmaptool.eu/en/content/license
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
Is ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Any way to tabulate the package name and license avail on Ubuntu repo? [duplicate]
I need to create a table with all installable packages on first column and its license in the second.
e.g.:
Gedit | GPL
0
votes
1answer
64 views
How do you find the licenses for everything installed on your system?
I want to write a script that outputs the license for every software package installed on my system.
Using dpkg --get-selections I am able to get list of everything installed. However, I don't see a ...
0
votes
2answers
243 views
Forced-quit Sun JDK installation through terminal [duplicate]
I downloaded the package and went through the installation process. I was first prompted with the license. There was an unclickable button which, as the tutorial said, I had to click. So I closed the ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Wine installation stalls at “Configuring ttf-mscorefonts-installer” [duplicate]
I'm new to Ubuntu. I've Installed Ubuntu 13.04. When i try to install wine, after downloading, in the terminal it shows Configuring ttf-mscorefonts-installer and then nothing is happening. After that, ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Can't package my quickly app after editing
I've had a lot of problems packaging my quickly app. After some editing I packaged it sucsesfuly, then I:
moved the packaging-files (jotty_0.1_all.deb jotty_0.1.dsc
jotty_0.1_i386.changes ...
-1
votes
2answers
34 views
Why can't I move my License key to the correct folder?
I just purchased Transition DJ for Ubuntu. It's installed but it won't launch. When I talked to the software developer, he said I need to add a file that has the license key in it to the Transitions ...
-1
votes
2answers
69 views
MIcrosoft License Compliance Check [closed]
We are using Ubuntu for 1.5 years. We have around 50 PCs running on Ubuntu. Before that I was using Windows. Last week I got a call from Microsoft Legal team that they want to do a compliance check. I ...
