By errodr on

I have been looking at Drupal for a while and I think it will fit my needs, I have a few questions concerning licensing.

1. If I use Drupal to create client websites am I allowed to tell the client how many users they can have on the system?
In other words can I sell x user license for an intranet system developed using Drupal?

2. As long as I include the GPL license with the source code do I have to explicitly tell the client that the code is GPL'ed?
If I do have to make such a disclaimer, what is the normal method?

Thanks...

⋅ Categories: Drupal 5.x

Comments

drubeedoo’s picture

drubeedoo commented

You can't restrict Drupal to a certain number of users, as it is GPL software and freely available to them. (They can always circumvent the 'restrictions' you place in their copy of the source.)

You *can* restrict support to a certain number of users and sell a support contract. Your users probably won't have the design skills so you'll be providing a value-added service: design and ongoing support. The code is free.

You always need to tell your clients that the software is under the GPL and provide the terms (or link to terms) and source.

Another approach is to provide a 'hosted' solution where you can place any restrictions you wish, so long as you control the source. That way, you are providing a service, with your own tweaked/restricted version of the software. The downside is, it has to be hosted on your server(s), not theirs. In this case, mentioning the GPL is not required, as they are not getting the software... only your 'hosted' service.

mlhess’s picture

mlhess commented

No, is the short answer.

You can not sell drupal, you can sell your time, your energy but not the source code. If you write a custom module for a user, and you sell that module, you give them the right to make changes to it (and to give it to anyone they want)

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html

Take a look there, it should answer any other questions you have.

errodr’s picture

errodr commented

I CAN sell Drupal. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html