By Anonymous (not verified) on

Simple questions really, but I can't find a direct answer anywhere, even after looking through the handbooks and searching the forums. :/

Is it required that any kind of acknowledgement/copyright to Drupal is given on a website powered by Drupal? ie: "(C) Drupal" or "Powered By Drupal"?

Thanks

Comments

boris mann’s picture

boris mann commented

The code that Drupal runs on is covered by the GPL. There is no requirement for "attribution" for any websites built using the software.

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

Ok, thanks for clarifying that. :)

Toe’s picture

Toe commented

Software makers can't *require* an advertisement like that and still release their software under the GPL. In fact, any license that requires an advertisement like that is incompatible with the GPL.

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

.. if it's incompatible with the GPL, but Drupal is currently single-licensed under GPL and looks to stay that way. There are possibilities to add licenses (with further requirements) to a GPL licensed product like Drupal.

Some CMSes require the powered by branding, but Drupal is cooler than that. That's one of the reasons Drupal is a good shoestring (economically) solution to hosting commercial websites and do your own commercial Drupal specializations. Understanding the full extent of the GPL is of course key, when getting into more esoteric areas.
;-)

Toe’s picture

Toe commented

There are possibilities to add licenses (with further requirements) to a GPL licensed product like Drupal.

No, it isn't possible to add further requirements to a GPL-licensed program, if you're planning to distribute it as one package. That's quite explicitly prohibited by the GPL.

You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein.

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

eldarin’s picture

eldarin commented

you can add further requirements which are not restrictions on rights already granted under the GPL.

See e.g. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCGPLAndPlugins and http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCLinkingOverControlledInterface .

You can combine Drupal with some software and use dual (or whatever) licensing - a lot of programs are released under dual licensing - one GPL and the other a compatible license : http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCWhatIsCompatible .

You can also release a program under several different licenses: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCReleaseUnderGPLAndNF .

Finally, a concrete example of adding to the GPL from FSF - concerning fonts: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#TOCFontException .

I don't claim to understand all the aspects of the GPL, and think legalese is complicated many times, but I think it's possible to say you can release a program under the GPL and a compatible license as a package, or other requirements which are not in contradiction to or restricting the GPL.
;-)

kulfi’s picture

kulfi commented

Could someone help me out with further license clarifications here: http://drupal.org/node/188954