An end user has downloaded CD-ROM
images of RedHat 9 from RedHat's
ftp site, and used those images to install three copies of the
distribution on three PCs. She was not required to pay for the
privilege of downloading, nor did she have to interactively accept the
terms of any agreement.
The software she downloaded is nevertheless covered by Copyright, and
is only
licensed to her. The great majority of the software comprising the
distribution is
licensed under the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public
License (GPL). The
GPL in Section 0 expressly allows "the act of running the Program"
without restriction, and Section 1 permits unlimited copying and
distribution.
The linked graphic still shows her acts of
installation to, and startup on, her
PCs as prohibited. That's
because not all the software is
properly licensed to her. That ate_utils.c
file is not at her disposal.
Common Questions:
- What can Some home user say in response to SCO's claim?
See the next
section...