Re: GPLing my software

[Jim Paradis <paradis linux01 hlo dec com>]

> I am interested in putting some of my biological sequence searching software 
> out  under the GPL and was wondering if anyone here could advise me on what 
> to do about setting this up.  

Note: I am not a lawyer, but I understand that the GPL was designed to
be simple to implement.  There's no formal "procedure" involved in that
you don't have to register with anyone or anything like that...

What you should do is:

	(1) Read and understand the GPL, and decide whether you
	    can abide by the provisions therein or not (e.g. 
	    you have to provide *all* the source to your software,
	    anyone has the right to copy, modify, and disseminate
	    your source code, etc).  You can find a copy of the	
	    GPL at:  ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/GPL

	(1a) Make sure *you* have the right to distribute the
	     software under these terms.  If you wrote it, then
	     you own the copyright on it and you can do with it
	     as you wish.  If portions of the software were written
	     by others and you do *not* own the copyright thereto,
	     you need to approach these copyright holders and obtain
	     their permission first.

	(2) Include a copy of the GPL with your source distribution

	(3) Include a notice in each source module that the program
	    is being distributed under the terms of the GPL

	(4) Place the goods in a publically-accessible location and
	    announce its availability.

That's basically all there is to it 8-)
--
Jim Paradis (paradis@linux01.hlo.dec.com)     "The early bird gets the worm.
Compaq Computer Corporation		       If you want something else for
(508)841-3243				       breakfast, get up later."
http://www.tiac.net/users/jrp/index.html