Can I Debrand/Sell Open Source Software?

Can I debrand some open software code by modifying it's code, making it look like it's mine and compiling it and then sell it for money?

I will give those two softwares as an example:
VLC Player
StrongDC++

 

I'm not a legal expert by any means, but I wouldn't have any reason to doubt that it would be very illegal. I definitely wouldn't risk it.

 

Nope. That would be fraud. And you don't want to be a scammer, do you?

 

Ya its bad but so many people do it. I mean it all depends how much you modify it. Code is code and it looks the same. I mean if you took wordpress script and tried modifying it and then selling you would probably get caught and sued.

I mean if you change the code around, modify the crap out of it, replace all the comments, change the database structure, etc. i doubt it that anyone could tell.

People do it all the time...i'm not saying the the right thing to do but do whatever you want man! Just be ready to back things up if you ever were going to get sued by the copyright holder.

 

Selling open source isn't good at all.

 

I've seen this sort of thing happen in the stock photo world. Someone buys a photo, changes it a little bit (color, trimming, placing it with other photos, etc), then tries to resell it. That is a bigtime no-no, and people get caught all the time. Depending on the situation, legal action usually follows.

I see modifying open source code and reselling it as the same thing.

 

I see but isn't it the purpose of the open-source licence? Modify, adapt, build upon, imrove, and do whatever you like to fit your needs and you can also use it for commersial purposes (except for some open-source products that strictly prohibit commercial usage with a separate licence).

 

I mean one thing you can do is get free open-source code modify it, build a site, build traffic, etc. and then sell your established website. Just because you have an open source site doesnt mean you can't sell it.

Please sell wordpress blogs all the time.

 

Any of you actually know what you are talking about ?

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney

Which way you do it is your "thing". Some companies burn linux or open source software to cd,dvd and sell it. You can make modification to gpl open source software and charge for download if you want.
As long as you keep it open source of course.

Read before you post bullshit on public forums.

 

mrgee, it sure does not sound like a good idea.. but there are many people doing it. I suppose it's up to you to decide.

 

.............

 

All that debrand, making it look seems a little fishy

But he can take open source software, edit it, get a new name for it or whatever...compile and sell. But he has to make it open source also !
He also cannot hunt down people that resell his software afterwards

 

There are many different types of open source licenses all with different terms of use. Read the terms of use...each script/software is different

 

First you have to see what license the software you want to resell is released under, whether that be actual GNU or GPL Open Source, or a BSD license.

It's not morally right to resell it as it is, and I don't believe you can (as most software has a readme file saying so)...but if you modify it and/or make it better I think you are free to use the source code for your needs and then resell it.

 

Please don't.

 

dude it's open source for a reason... selling it would be like ripping off the sample tray at the grocery store and selling it to the bums outside or bartering them for saliva flooded bottles of cheap whiskey... Your messing with fire, stay away! It's all about karma man... good karma = $$$$ IMO

 

I guess people took my question too seriously. I do NOT sell open source products currently and I was just asking if it was allowed or not from legal/ethical point of view.

To the point, from what I understand:
If the product is under the GPL/GNU licence:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney

Interesting read on the topic:
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

This means that I can profit from GPL licenced products and I can modify or rename them as well. And for the people that say "don't do it", I don't ask if I should but am I allowed to...

Anyway, there are different kinds of business and it seems that this is an interesting oportuinity - to have ready made products without effort that you can sell to your own audience (there is another question if people are ready to buy it when there is a free version available elsewhere, but this comes to good promotion).

Regards!

 

you must be a big fat rat to sell someone elses work Im sure there must a part in the GPL that you cannot sell a piece of software thats under GPL/GNU of someone else

Btw becarefull with who you get angry if the opensource community finds out im sure they take down your servers ^^