Copyright? If I reused someone's GNU GPL program, can I publish it as mine?

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Hello guys,

I am not well aware about Copyright and GNU GPL licensing because of the language that this license is written is so difficult to understand. I hope someone can help me with it.
If I reuse and/or modify someone's application or library that is copyrighted and licensed according to GPL license, can I state the modified application as mine? or I could only make notices that I have done some changes.

Thx beforehand...
[originally posted on jforum.net by dobromir]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

dobromir wrote:Hello guys,

I am not well aware about Copyright and GNU GPL licensing because of the language that this license is written is so difficult to understand. I hope someone can help me with it.
If I reuse and/or modify someone's application or library that is copyrighted and licensed according to GPL license, can I state the modified application as mine? or I could only make notices that I have done some changes.

Thx beforehand...

What???!!!

You want to steal someones property? Off course you cannot state the software as yours under GPL. That is the whole idea. If you do modifications, you must give these modifications back to the community (make the changes available). You will have to stick to the GPL license for your modifications as well.


[originally posted on jforum.net by lazee]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I agree with Lazee... But to add in a couple of small points...

Modifying the code does not require you to resubmit it to the project (but you shoud!). However, if you redistribute the modifications, you must include the modification source and quote the original GPL copywrite information with your modified product.

AFAIK, you can however, extend the code (e.g., integrate this into your app by writing your own classes that call the jForum classes), and copywrite / license this code in the manner you want.

But when you redistribute this code, you will still need to clearly specify the source and licensing of the GPL portions of the original code. (And include source for any modifications you made to the base code).

Disclaimer... I am not a lawyer, your legal system may interpret this differently...
[originally posted on jforum.net by monroe]