I have got a silly question!

[Malvazar]

I have what may seem like I silly question, and you will all probably laugh at me for it, but I really think I should ask it! So here it is:
Is it illegal to sell copies of ubuntu?:confused:

[steeleyuk]

No.

Unless you modify the distribution, say include Flash or Java for example, and still call it Ubuntu.

[Malvazar]

Okay I was just saw that best buy was selling it for $20, and it kinda made me wonder is all.

[Frak]

You can sell the media and labour, you cannot sell the OS.

[Malvazar]

Oh well I think they are selling the hole deal!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8888563&st=Ubuntu&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1211587312374

[Canis familiaris]

Best Buy's vendor ValueSoft has patnered with Canonical to sell the whole package. it's completely legal.

[howefield]

Okay I was just saw that best buy was selling it for $20, and it kinda made me wonder is all.

Canonical are selling it through Amazon and Best Buy, where it comes boxed with a manual and 60 days unlimited support.

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/07/10/ubuntu_best_buy_amazon/

[Malvazar]

Oh! Okay I was just wondering! I have a thing against big bignesses is all!

[overdrank]

Already discussed
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=853139

[Frak]

They sell the included other software + support.

[billgoldberg]

You can sell the media and labour, you cannot sell the OS.

I'm not so sure about that.

[earthpigg]

I'm not so sure about that.

how so?

i can sell the labor of burning a cd, and the media of the cd itself and the box it comes in.

[akiratheoni]

You can sell the media and labour, you cannot sell the OS.

I always thought you can charge as much as you want for it, but it's just common practice that they only charge to cover the cost of the media and labor...

[Frak]

I always thought you can charge as much as you want for it, but it's just common practice that they only charge to cover the cost of the media and labor...
Canonical forbids selling Ubuntu for-profit without permission from them.

[akiratheoni]

Do you have a specific link for that claim? I would think such a thing violates the spirit of the GPL...

[Frak]

Do you have a specific link for that claim? I would think such a thing violates the spirit of the GPL...
Copylefting protects the creator:

http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy

[p_quarles]

Copylefting protects the creator:

http://www.ubuntu.com/aboutus/trademarkpolicy
Trademark has nothing to do with copyright. The only restrictions that Ubuntu has placed on the software it ships have to do with trademark. The software licenses themselves were -- in every case I am aware of -- decided upon upstream from Ubuntu, so Ubuntu gets no say in the matter.

In other words, the possible restrictions on redistributing Ubuntu would involve one of two things:
1) The name. Canonical owns the right to call software "Ubuntu," and can legally prevent others from doing so.

2) Upstream non-free licenses. If Ubuntu includes something with non-free restrictions in its distribution, the right to redistribute that software might not be extended to others.

[Forbees]

look on ebay


people are selling homemade copies of ubuntu

its horrible!!

[p_quarles]

look on ebay


people are selling homemade copies of ubuntu

its horrible!!
No, it is not horrible. I feel comfortable stating this as an objective fact.

[Frak]

look on ebay


people are selling homemade copies of ubuntu

its horrible!!
Again, it is only sold for the cost of labour and media. Some people find buying the discs more cost and time efficient, such as dial-up users.