Re: a legal issue...

Jacob Suter wrote:

> You can sell a machine preconfigured with Freebsd, Linux, etc, with
> squid, etc etc on it... As long as you're not *Selling* the software,
> just the configuration of it, or even smarter call the software & config
> "free with the machine".

GPL allows you to take any charge you chage for the copying of the
software,
but not for the actual software. When distributing a binary you are
required
to either provide the source with the binary, or to make the source
available
for a charge no more than your cost of physically performing source
distribution.

Two quotes from the license preamble stating the general idea:

     When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not
   price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that
you
   have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge
for
   this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it
   if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it
   in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things.
...
     For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether
   gratis or for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that
   you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the
   source code. And you must show them these terms so they know their
   rights.

and a specific quote from the end of section 1:

   You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and
   you may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a
fee.

In essencial: The GPL permits almost anything, expect making a
proprietary
derivate.

---
Henrik Nordström
Sparetime Squid Hacker