Using Emacs for commercial purposes

[t***@gmail.com]

Hello:

Apologies if this isn’t the correct place to ask.

I am in the process of starting my own business and I am wondering, if it is fine to use Emacs within my business for commercial purposes? From my understanding it appears I can, but I just wanted to clarify and make sure.

Thank you,
Tyler Strouth
E-Mail: ***@gmail.com

[p***@russet.org.uk]

Yes, there are no restrictions on any use of Emacs.

The limitation is that you cannot include Emacs within your products
unless you do so in terms with the GPL Copying Requirements.

Phil

Post by t***@gmail.com
Apologies if this isn’t the correct place to ask.
I am in the process of starting my own business and I am wondering, if
it is fine to use Emacs within my business for commercial purposes?
From my understanding it appears I can, but I just wanted to clarify
and make sure.
Thank you,
Tyler Strouth

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

Dear Tyler,

***@gmail.com writes:

[...]

Post by t***@gmail.com
I am in the process of starting my own business and I am wondering, if
it is fine to use Emacs within my business for commercial purposes?

Yes, under specific conditions (see below): this is not Emacs specific
but is common to all free software.

In general, you are free to use the software for any purpose.

If you modify Emacs (or any Emacs package) you must comply to the terms
of the licence.

See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License#Use_of_licensed_software
for general information about freedom of use of GNU GPL licnsed free software

[...]

Happy hacking! Gio'

[Jason Rumney]

Post by Giovanni Biscuolo
If you modify Emacs (or any Emacs package) you must comply to the terms
of the licence.

Not modify. Distribute.

You can make whatever modifications you want without condition if you keep those modifications to yourself.

If you distribute Emacs, modified or unmodified, as part of your own software, or on its own, there are terms in the license you need to comply with.

[Emanuel Berg]

Post by t***@gmail.com
I am in the process of starting my own business and
I am wondering, if it is fine to use Emacs within
my business for commercial purposes? From my
understanding it appears I can, but I just wanted
to clarify and make sure.

Yes, of course. It happens every day.

It is a tool. Is it OK to use a torque wrench
even/especially for commercial purposes? Go right
ahead and use it for the _intended_ purpose, be it
commercial or altruistic or a little bit of both.

Good enough for government work!

But if your business is immensely successful feel
free to contribute in any way to Emacs - maybe the
GNU project, if Emacs doesn't have a Swiss bank
account of its own :)

[Dmitry Alexandrov]

If you modify Emacs (or any Emacs package) you must comply to the terms of the licence.
modify

Or distribute.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License#Use_of_licensed_software for general information about freedom of use of GNU GPL licnsed free software

Actually, one might find reading the legal text itself [1] more benefiting than reading many various texts about the text (thankfully, FSF have always tried to keep its licences in English than legalese ;-)

In particular, many simplifications as well as detailed explanations of GNU GPL fail to state prominently the only point one might be really interested in:

| You are not required to accept [the terms of] this License [agreement] in order to receive or run a copy of the Program.

[1] <f1> C-c
or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

Post by Dmitry Alexandrov

Post by Giovanni Biscuolo
modify

Or distribute.

Ooops: sorry!

[...]

Post by Dmitry Alexandrov
Actually, one might find reading the legal text itself [1] more
benefiting than reading many various texts about the text (thankfully,
FSF have always tried to keep its licences in English than legalese
;-)
In particular, many simplifications as well as detailed explanations
of GNU GPL fail to state prominently the only point one might be
| You are not required to accept [the terms of] this License
| [agreement] in order to receive or run a copy of the Program.

+100 :thumbup:

Thanks, Gio'