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Diffstat (limited to 'docs/busybox.net/license.html')
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diff --git a/docs/busybox.net/license.html b/docs/busybox.net/license.html index 0e27c39..14324f1 100644 --- a/docs/busybox.net/license.html +++ b/docs/busybox.net/license.html @@ -10,12 +10,32 @@ whatsoever, this page attempts to summarize what you should do to ensure you do not accidentally violate the law. <p> +<h3>Complying with the BusyBox license is easy and completely free.</h3> + +U.S. and International Law protects copyright owners from the unauthorized +reproduction, adaptation, display, distribution, etc of copyright protected +works. Copyright violations (such as shipping BusyBox in a manner contrary to +its license) are subject to severe penalties. The courts can award up to +$150,000 per product shipped without even showing any actual loss by the +copyright holder. Criminal penalties are available for intentional acts +undertaken for purposes of "commercial advantage" or "private financial gain." +In addition, if it comes to my attention that you are violating the BusyBox +license, I will list you on the <a href="/shame.html">BusyBox Hall of Shame</a> +webpage. <p> +Nobody wants that to happen. Do everyone a favor and don't break the law -- if +you use BusyBox, you <b>must comply with the BusyBox license</b>. + +<p> +<h3>BusyBox is licensed under the GNU General Public License</h3> + BusyBox is licensed under the GNU General Public License , which -is generally just abbreviated simply as the GPL license, or -just the GPL. <a href="/products.html">Anyone thinking of shipping +is generally just abbreviated as the GPL license, or +just the GPL. +<p> +<a href="/products.html">Anyone thinking of shipping BusyBox as part of a product</a> should be familiar with the licensing terms under which they are allowed to use and distribute BusyBox. You are advised to take a look over the @@ -53,37 +73,39 @@ applications such as BusyBox is mandatory. <p> -<b>Accompanied by source</b> generally means you place the full -source code for all GPL'd products such as BusyBox on a driver CD -somewhere. Full source code includes the BusyBox ".config" file -used when your shipping BusyBox binary was compiled. +<b>Accompanied by source</b> generally means you distribute the full +source code for all GPL'd products including BusyBox along with your +product, such as by placing it somewhere on a driver CD. Full source +code includes the BusyBox ".config" file used when your shipping BusyBox +binary was compiled, and any and all modifications you made to the +BusyBox source code. <p> <b>A written offer</b> generally means that somewhere in the -docs for your product, you write something like +documentation for your product, you write something like <blockquote> The GPL source code contained in this product is available as a free download from http://blah.blah.blah/ </blockquote> -Or you can offer source by writing -somewhere in the docs for your product something like +Alternatively, you can offer the source code by writing +somewhere in the documentation for your product something like <blockquote> -If you would like a copy of the GPL source code in this product -on a CD, please send $9.99 to <address> for the costs of -preparing and mailing a CD to you. +If you would like a copy of the GPL source code contained in this +product shipped to you on CD, please send $9.99 to <address> +which covers the cost of preparing and mailing a CD to you. </blockquote> <p> -Keep in mind though that if you distribute GPL'd binaries online -(as is often done when supplying firmware updates), it is highly -recommended that you make the corresponding source available online -at the same place. Regardless, you <b>must</b> either make source -available online (i.e. <b>accompanied by source</b>) and/or inform -those downloading firmware updates of their right to obtain source -(i.e. <b>a written offer</b>). Failure to do so is a violation of -your licensing obligations. +Keep in mind though that if you distribute GPL'd binaries online (as is often +done when supplying firmware updates), it is <b>highly</b> recommended that you +make the corresponding source available online at the same place. Regardless, +if you distribute a binary copy of BusyBox online (such as part of a firmware +update) you <b>must</b> either make source available online (i.e. +<b>accompanied by source</b>) and/or inform those downloading firmware updates +of their right to obtain source (i.e. <b>a written offer</b>). Failure to do +so is a violation of your licensing obligations. <p> @@ -97,6 +119,7 @@ If you distribute any GPL'd binaries, you must also make source available as discussed on this webpage. <p> +<h3>A Good Example</h3> These days, <a href="http://www.linksys.com/">Linksys</a> is doing a good job at complying with the GPL, they get to be an @@ -104,8 +127,8 @@ example of how to do things right. Please take a moment and check out what they do with <a href="http://www.linksys.com/download/firmware.asp?fwid=178"> distributing the firmware for their WRT54G Router.</a> -Following their example would be a fine way to ensure you have -fulfilled your licensing obligations. +Following their example would be a fine way to ensure that you +have also fulfilled your licensing obligations. <!--#include file="footer.html" --> |