Taegert-Kilger Christoph : SSME
2002-Feb-04 22:17 UTC
[Samba] Licensing question: Using Samba in a medical system
Hello! We would like to use Samba in a medical system. It would be used to give to a Windows NT workstation transparent access to files on a Linux workstation (file system mapping). This should be possible by installing Samba without changing it and as a separate component of the overall installation. Our question: In order to fulfill the licensing requirements, what would we have to give to our end users? Would a commitment in the user manual according to section 3b) of the GPL (commitment to provide the sources on request) do, or would we have to take other steps? In particular: Would we have to reveal any details of source code of other components of the systems than Samba? With kind regards, Christoph. ------------------------------ Christoph Taegert-Kilger Software Project Manager Christoph.Taegert-Kilger@ssme.siemens.com.cn Tel: +86 21 65395398 x 350 Fax: +86 21 65436168
Andrew Bartlett
2002-Feb-06 00:47 UTC
[Samba] Licensing question: Using Samba in a medical system
Taegert-Kilger Christoph : SSME wrote:> > Hello! > > We would like to use Samba in a medical system. > It would be used to give to a Windows NT workstation > transparent access to files on a Linux workstation > (file system mapping). > This should be possible by installing Samba without > changing it and as a separate component of the > overall installation. > > Our question: In order to fulfill the licensing requirements, > what would we have to give to our end users? > Would a commitment in the user manual according to > section 3b) of the GPL (commitment to provide the > sources on request) do, or would we have to take other > steps? > > In particular: Would we have to reveal any details of source code > of other components of the systems than Samba?Unless you modify or use Samba's code in your own (unreleased) product, then no - you are perfectly fine. See how the GPL distinguishes between 'derivitive works' and 'mere aggrigation'. Landing the samba tarball (and installation scripts for your setup) in a subdir of the installation CDROM would also provide complience - without the need to keep track of old verions forever. Either way, thanks for asking - and good luck with your product! The final word on this is the GPL itself - and a competent laywer (which I am not :-) should give similar advice. (Also remember to do likewise for the other GPL system components). Andrew Bartlett -- Andrew Bartlett abartlet@pcug.org.au Manager, Authentication Subsystems, Samba Team abartlet@samba.org Student Network Administrator, Hawker College abartlet@hawkerc.net samba.org build.samba.org hawkerc.net
Gerald Carter
2002-Feb-08 15:34 UTC
[Samba] Licensing question: Using Samba in a medical system
On Tue, 5 Feb 2002, Taegert-Kilger Christoph : SSME wrote:> Hello! > > We would like to use Samba in a medical system. > It would be used to give to a Windows NT workstation > transparent access to files on a Linux workstation > (file system mapping). > This should be possible by installing Samba without > changing it and as a separate component of the > overall installation. > > Our question: In order to fulfill the licensing requirements, > what would we have to give to our end users? > Would a commitment in the user manual according to > section 3b) of the GPL (commitment to provide the > sources on request) do, or would we have to take other > steps? > > In particular: Would we have to reveal any details of source code > of other components of the systems than Samba?You should really consult a lawyer on this if you are considereing shipping Samba in a product. The rule of thumb is that (a) you must provide source code for a GPL piece of software upon request (including any change you have made to it), and (b) and "in process" piece of code not considered to be part of the shippiong OS must also be released under the GPL. I'm sure other will chime in as well. Everyone loves a good licensing discussion. chau, jerry --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hewlett-Packard hp.com SAMBA Team samba.org -- plainjoe.org "Sam's Teach Yourself Samba in 24 Hours" 2ed. ISBN 0-672-32269-2 --"I never saved anything for the swim back." Ethan Hawk in Gattaca--