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Thread: Joomla and GNU License Question

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    Joomla and GNU License Question

    Say I design websites and I stumbled across Joomla and think - "By 'eck, this is a right good content management system"

    Can I utilize Joomla for projects and charge for them? Not quite sure how the GNU works in that respect.

    Discuss...

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    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
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    you can charge them for service such as hosting, inputting content, site design etc etc, you cannot charge them for using jamoola.

    I believe Jamoola terms also state that you can't rebadge it and you have to have the "powered by Jamoola logo" present (from memory)
    It is Inevitable.....


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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    I'm getting slightly confused, especially by the article about charging for the free software (they make the point that its more about freedom of use rather than "free" and in beer)

    I could basically use Joomla but in theory not charge for the content management system?

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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RoGuE|SaBeR View Post
    I'm getting slightly confused, especially by the article about charging for the free software (they make the point that its more about freedom of use rather than "free" and in beer)

    I could basically use Joomla but in theory not charge for the content management system?
    you can charge for GPL software, but must redistribute source code on request, and understand that the source code may then be re-sold free of charge.

    as an example, red hat enterprise linux is very expensive - but source code is freely available. there are free (money) projects which take those sources, and recompile them to produce a free-of-charge, compatible product (centos, for example)

    charging money for GPL software is permitted, but source code must also be provided to users on request

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    As far as I can tell there is nothing stopping you from building websites for customers, and charging them for your services.

    You can use Joomla as the back end for these web sites, you can charge them a hosting fee and charge them for any updates.

    You can send them a CD-Rom of all the required software, content and config files(apache, Joomla, database backups etc) to host there web site and charge them (a reasonable fee) for this as well.

    You would need to include a link to the joomla source code and clearly identify that there was GNU licensed software on the disk.

    What you can't do is sell them a copy of RougeSaberCMS (a re badged/modified joomla) that isn't licensed according to the GPL. This would be a derivative work in the terms used in the GPL.

    See freedom to do what you want with the software as long as you grant other people the same freedom that they (joomla developers) granted you


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    Moderator DavidM's Avatar
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    Yes - basically its services and support only you can charge for, as the OpenSource coders have already done their work for free.

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    Cheers guys

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