Re: [tlug] GPL and Open Source Licences

[simon colston <simon@example.com>]

Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:
> 
>     simon> OK, so let's say I sell the program and the source to one
>     simon> customer under the GPL.  I understand that under the GPL
>     simon> the customer *can* copy, modify and make the source public
>     simon> but is that customer _obliged_ to do so?  Can the source be
>     simon> kept secret between me and my one and only customer for
>     simon> this program? Or, can anyone write to my customer and force
>     simon> them to give them a copy of the source because it is
>     simon> licenced under the GPL?
> 
> No, yes (by gentlemen's agreement; you cannot make a contract
> enforceable in court), and no.

Great, that makes things a little clearer for me now.

> 
> Note that other licenses have different provisions.  The BSD licenses
> would permit you to keep your code private---but only if the
> _upstream_ is BSD.  

So under the BSD licence the customer would not have the right to 
redistribute my code without my concent?