On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:25:40 +0200, clipka wrote:

> Jim Henderson schrieb:
>>> What if all I do is sit at a terminal on that company's premises,
>>> hacking at the keyboard to remove some code from the original source
>>> and add some other instead?
>> 
>> You have to make the source available to at least the people you
>> distribute it to.
> 
> So as all I do is just modify the GPL'ed code and not distribute it (it
> stays on their machines all the times, right?), just providing that
> company with some additional (non-GPL'ed) code of my own design, I fail
> to see the problem.

Your code, by definition, is required to be under the GPL because it is 
incorporated in a GPL'ed program.  That doesn't mean you have to 
distribute it publicly, but you do legally (by the GPL license) have to 
provide the company with the code.

> And after all, it's not much of a difference to a regular employee of
> that company adapting the GPL'ed code to the company's needs.

Well, it is a little different, in that the employee doing the work is 
generally going to be required to turn ownership over to their employer.  
As a contractor, though, you'd be required by the GPL to do the same.

But if you were to be doing that as a matter of practice, you should 
consult with a laywer who specializes specifically in the GPL.

Jim

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