You can choose to distribute Perl under either the Artistic License or the GPL. I assume that you're distributing commercially.

The GPL will allow you to either include source code in your distribution, or to include an offer, good for at least 3 years, to distribute full source code. You are not allowed to just point to where source code is available, though, because your distribution is commercial. (Many people overlook this fact.)

The Artistic License will allow you to distribute if you include source, change the names of the executables and document differences, embed Perl in some program so that it is not externally visible, or make other arrangements with the copyright holders. (The last option is virtually impossible, don't try it.)

So the full list of ways that you can get permission include:

  1. Include source
  2. Include an offer for source, good for 3 years
  3. Change the names of the executables and document the differences from the standard
  4. Embed Perl so that it is not externally visible
  5. Make other arrangements with copyright holders (this ain't happening, sorry)
Do any of these things and you should be fine. Do none, and you're violating copyright law.

I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, yada yada yada. (Technical note, by saying that I'm saying that if you follow my advice and get sued, you can't sue me for giving you bad advice. This is why lawyers WILL NOT give legal advice without being paid, because legal advice has liability associated with it.)

In reply to Re: Distributing perl by tilly
in thread Distributing perl by robertinant

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