Apologies if I'm repeating a question, but I couldn't find a definite answer...
I'm developing/maintaining/hosting a site using Drupal. I'm using several contributed modules, some that I have customized to meet my needs. I have a customer using the site I'm hosting who wants to pay for custom development. The customer wants a copy of the module/source code and I understand it will need to be GPL'd if distributing it. I have no problem with that. However, would I under any circumstances be liable to distribute any of the other modules (contributed or core) that I have created or modified as part of my service?
Opinions are welcome and I'm willing to consult an attorney, if anyone can recommend one that has the right experience with this matter.
Thanks,
Marten
Comments
In General
In kind of a simplified way, GPL says that if you distribute your work, the source must go with it. If yo If you don't include the source, then it should be readily available online through anonymous access. (drupal.org/project/your_project) you make a .jpg from a .psd, the .psd should be included in the 'source' code. We're working with PHP mostly so it's pretty hard to not include original source because we're not compiling anything.
I think any module (because of how it interacts with core) is assumed to be derivative work. That would mean even if you don't distribute the module, it still needs to be GPLv2. Supposedly you can use GPLv3 but I think that's crossing the line for what the license states.
So.. You're not required to distribute your modules, but if you do the full source needs and license needs to go with it or be immediately available. Now.. when you do work for a client, that work usually becomes theirs to do with as they please. If they want to put it up on FTP, that's their choice. GPL allows them to do this.
I've been up for far too long so if I didn't make sense - please slap me. GPL is hard enough to understand; the way Drupal uses it makes it even harder; the way they explain it makes it harder yet. What I said above is related to GPL mostly not so much Drupal.
Michael Lustfield
Ubuntu Member, Nginx Hacker
Only modules that get distributed need to be GPL
The jpg / PSD is a mistake. Unless the original files are GPL, then images, CSS, and other non-PHP, non-template items do not necessarily need to be under the GPL.
Only the modules that you actually distribute / give a copy of to the client are required to be made available under the GPL. The hosted version is not being distributed.