RE: [PHP] PHP Encoders and GPL License

I just want to clarify this for myself. My impression was that the affects of GPL requiring software developed from the original GPL to also be free was only applicable to modifications of the program itself. So if php was GPL and I modified the source and built my own customized version of php I couldn't sell it but could only give it away, but if I used php to develop some other software that runs on php I could sell it without a problem. Similar to creating software that runs on Linux, the software can be sold but if I modify Linux itself and turn around and sell it, it would be against the license. Is this accurate? Larry S. Brown Dimension Networks, Inc. (727) 723-8388 -----Original Message----- From: Zeev Suraski [mailto:zeev@zend.com] Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 6:40 AM To: [-^-!-%- Cc: PHP general list Subject: Re: [PHP] PHP Encoders and GPL License At 02:45 18/01/2003, [-^-!-%- wrote: >Food for thought: > >As I look through the Zend website, and applaud their efforts to create >'protected' php applications, I can't help but wonder about the impact >(or lagality) or their efforts. Doesn't the use of the Zend Encoder (or >any other PHP Encoders out there) violate the GPL License or the whole Open >Source Concept? > >As far as I understand it, the GPL License states that the source code >of any product created from an open source solutions, or is derived from >the work of an open solutions, must be made availabe to all users. > >Since PHP itself is open source, then wouldn't that prohibit a developer >from encoding any PHP product? > >Please correct me, if I'm wrong. I'm just curious. You're wrong for two reasons: [1] As other people mentioned here, PHP (or in that case, the Zend Engine, PHP's core) is not under the GPL license. Since it is under a BSD style license, people are free to use it for commercial ventures in any and all levels. [2] Even if the Zend Engine was under the GPL, the authors of the software always have the right to use their software in whatever way they see fit, and relicense it under any other licenses. In this case, the author of the Zend Engine is the same as one that publishes the Zend Encoder, so there's really no problem at all. Zeev -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php