rthrash
Foundation
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« on: Dec 18, 2006, 09:26 AM » |
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Paraphrased from a discussion about how the GPL affects a person's ability to charge for sites in MODx and how it affects their proprietary snippets/modules (in short, it doesn't so much) ... The conclusion is worth posting a sticky topic, as it seems like this discussion pops up quarterly, as it does on many OS projects. Here's our take on the GPL means for you and for your sites built in MODx: Legalities (Letter of the Law)- You can use MODx to develop sites for clients. You can host the site or deliver it to the client to host and no one has to release any code back to the project, including modified MODx code, unless you want to. You have to make the MODx core code available to the client, or at least tell them where to find it. You cannot place restrictions on the customer's right to redistribute said MODx code.
- If you write snippets as part of developing a site for a client, you don't have to distribute them on GPL if they only call the MODx API and don't change any MODx code. You can distribute them using a closed-source commercial license.
- If you modify the MODx code (i.e. anything shipped with the MODx tarball/zip-file) for any reason it must be licensed under the GPL if you choose to distribute the changes. Hosting a site is considered distribution.
- You can make money from any of the above because the GPL is only concerned with distribution.
Ethics (Spirit of the Law)- MODx is the result of more than 10,000 hours and 2 years (as of Dec '06). We've donated this project and don't require or ask much of the people that use it. We've spent more real dollars that hours too, and have ongoing monthly expenses that are still not fully covered by donations.
- If you make changes to MODx, please share them back with the community. If you choose not to do so, or try to hide the fact a site is running MODx behind an authenticated Manager login, we simply ask that you abstain from using the support forums for any reason whatsoever. In my personal view, the GPL is not about support, but about sharing.
We're working on a "private label" MODx license (and support/distribution mechanism) for developers that want a fully brand-able manager, and we hope to have that resolved along with the 1.0 release. |
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« Last Edit: Dec 18, 2006, 10:58 AM by rthrash »
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MODx is a framework that allows web professionals to turn over sites to end-users for daily maintenance without worrying. Community participation and questions are encouraged, especially when you help us help you, read the wiki, and review snippet parameters – even if you have to look at the source. Searching the forums helps, too.
Ryan Thrash
MODx Co-Founder
Principal @ Collabpad
work productively.
work intelligently.
work together.
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davidm
Marketing & Design Team
Posts: 6,673
The best way to predict the future is to invent it
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« Reply #1 on: Dec 19, 2006, 11:53 AM » |
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Great post Ryan... as we discussed, I'll translate it and I suggest moderators of each local communities do the same, not everybody speaks english... PS : it seems you forgot to make it a sticky  |
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« Last Edit: Dec 19, 2006, 12:03 PM by davidm »
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rthrash
Foundation
Posts: 9,316
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« Reply #2 on: Dec 19, 2006, 11:57 AM » |
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LOL ... I could've sworn I had made it sticky, but apparently not.  Now it is. |
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MODx is a framework that allows web professionals to turn over sites to end-users for daily maintenance without worrying. Community participation and questions are encouraged, especially when you help us help you, read the wiki, and review snippet parameters – even if you have to look at the source. Searching the forums helps, too.
Ryan Thrash
MODx Co-Founder
Principal @ Collabpad
work productively.
work intelligently.
work together.
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davidm
Marketing & Design Team
Posts: 6,673
The best way to predict the future is to invent it
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« Reply #3 on: Dec 19, 2006, 12:12 PM » |
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I thought it was, but after searching the forums to find this thread back, realized it wasn't... otherwise I wouldn't have noticed either !
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feary
Member
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« Reply #4 on: Dec 20, 2006, 05:23 PM » |
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The private label sounds great! Very clever.
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Bravado
Coding Team
Posts: 1,075
"I can learn to resist anything but temptation..."
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« Reply #5 on: Dec 21, 2006, 09:29 AM » |
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"Private Label" makes it sound like a bottle of wine. "Would like a glass of our private label 1999 MODx Cabernet Sauvigon? Or perhaps a pint of our MODx stout on tap?" That's the wonderful thing about the GPL...it gives the developers alot more choices on how software can be used. |
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Jeff Whitfield
"When someone asks you, A penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?"
-George Carlin
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grad
Coding Team
Posts: 139
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« Reply #6 on: Dec 22, 2006, 04:21 AM » |
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Thanks Ryan for making it explicit. I already translated it into Polish. |
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silent
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« Reply #7 on: Dec 28, 2006, 03:37 PM » |
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Is there any German translation yet? I'd be happy to create one! |
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rthrash
Foundation
Posts: 9,316
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« Reply #8 on: Dec 28, 2006, 03:38 PM » |
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I don't think so... that'd be great and thanks! |
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MODx is a framework that allows web professionals to turn over sites to end-users for daily maintenance without worrying. Community participation and questions are encouraged, especially when you help us help you, read the wiki, and review snippet parameters – even if you have to look at the source. Searching the forums helps, too.
Ryan Thrash
MODx Co-Founder
Principal @ Collabpad
work productively.
work intelligently.
work together.
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silent
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« Reply #9 on: Dec 28, 2006, 03:46 PM » |
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You'll get it tomorrow - it's close to midnight in Berlin/GER...  |
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doze
Coding Team
Posts: 3,132
....Boom!
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« Reply #10 on: Dec 29, 2006, 03:51 AM » |
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I can do one in Gibberish..
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Dr. Scotty Delicious
Coding Team
Posts: 1,172
Dr. of Fine Pirate Arts
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« Reply #11 on: Dec 29, 2006, 06:05 AM » |
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I can do one in Gibberish..
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We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot. Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. Drink up me 'earties, Yo Ho!
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! A pirate's life for me.
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silent
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« Reply #12 on: Dec 29, 2006, 08:49 AM » |
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I just sent my translation to netnoise. I hope he'll make a sticky topic in the German forum out of it. [EDIT]As netnoise asked me to, I posted it to the German forum myself. Task accomplished [/EDIT] |
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« Last Edit: Dec 29, 2006, 10:13 AM by silent »
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Banfa
Jr. Member
Posts: 3
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« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2007, 04:34 PM » |
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Ethics (Spirit of the Law)- If you make changes to MODx, please share them back with the community. If you choose not to do so, or try to hide the fact a site is running MODx behind an authenticated Manager login, we simply ask that you abstain from using the support forums for any reason whatsoever. In my personal view, the GPL is not about support, but about sharing.
With reference to this bullet point would you mind explaining (or giving an example of (or both)) the snippet "try to hide the fact a site is running MODx behind an authenticated Manager login". I have to add that it is only with the last year that I have managed to get a basic understanding of how the GPL actually works (for several years I wondered how people could make a living giving their software away and then for several more years I ignored the issue) and that it is about being open and making source available and not anything to do with money. I would just like to make sure that I am not breaking any laws (spiritually or legally) before going live with any sites |
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TTFN
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rthrash
Foundation
Posts: 9,316
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« Reply #14 on: May 03, 2007, 07:08 PM » |
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A perfect example of breaking the spirit of the law:
You're a dev shop and remove all traces of MODx and where it came from from the manager. You present it to your clients as your own, proprietary application, giving no credit back to it's original authors. Make sense?
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MODx is a framework that allows web professionals to turn over sites to end-users for daily maintenance without worrying. Community participation and questions are encouraged, especially when you help us help you, read the wiki, and review snippet parameters – even if you have to look at the source. Searching the forums helps, too.
Ryan Thrash
MODx Co-Founder
Principal @ Collabpad
work productively.
work intelligently.
work together.
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