OpenSource & Hosting

**alicepohl** · 2009-09-02, 10:25 AM

I understand one cannot "sell" opensource - the idea is it free for everyone to use
Can we, however, charge - to host the opensource programme for clients?

**salesagility** · 2009-09-02, 10:44 AM

yes .... you're charging for service (hosting) not for the software

**roblaus** · 2009-09-02, 06:44 PM

Actually you can sell. The art is to find somebody to pay for it since you must deliver the source code.
If you host you can even add your own modules without being obliged to disclose the source code. This is known as the SaaS/Web/ASP loophole in GPL3

**alicepohl** · 2009-09-02, 06:51 PM

thanks so much

**salesagility** · 2009-09-02, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by roblaus

Actually you can sell. The art is to find somebody to pay for it since you must deliver the source code.
If you host you can even add your own modules without being obliged to disclose the source code. This is known as the SaaS/Web/ASP loophole in GPL3

Roblaus

I stand corrected

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html