At 11.42 17/12/2003, you wrote:
- The system should not have buyware installed,
No such restriction exists, AFAIK
but may come bundled with buyware on a second CD that the User may install at their whim. Such a CD should be carefully and CLEARLY marked, so it is not confused with Open Source software.
"Open Source" is a detail. Try to actually understand what are licenses about: just slapping labels may be easier, but is stupid. Software licenses cover two aspects: use and redistribution (if sources are available and the license treats them differently, also add: use of code and redistribution of code. Also note that imposing restrictions on the use - e.g. "no commercial use" - may or may not be legal). Most open source licenses, for example, allow unlimited use, limited distribution of the software and sources and limited use of the code
Now try to explain, from the user's point of view, what's the difference between a software to which he's granted unlimited use and limited distribution (e.g. "Redistribution is free, as long as the software is unchanged") but not source code access and one to which he's granted unlimited use, limited distribution (e.g. "Redistribution is free, as long as source code is also offered") and limited source code access
The user should be made aware that it is perfectly legal for them to use that CD to install ROS on any machine they own, and feel it is needed on, and that the same applies to all other Open source software bundled with the unit.)
It's not that easy. Redistribution is rarely free - in fact, limiting redistribution is *the* point of most licenses. The idea that open source developers are nice and forgiving and won't sue, and if they sued they'd be harmless, is wrong and misleading. The "free" in "free software" refers to the use: redistribution certainly isn't, and telling ignorant people that it is just because you feel like a freaking guerrilla fighting against a greater evil is stupid and harms your own cause. Repeat with me: open source isn't a free coupon ticket for a 20% discount on legal knowledge