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Ok so I've read post after, after post, after and I know feel well informed about the GPL and how it applies to me as a developer. I still have one scenario I would like advise on whether it would be in violation or not.

I am in the middle of putting together a SERVICE that incorporates some different open source software and kinda stitches them together very neatly. All of them are covered under GPL license, so my question is about the code that I write to kinda make them work well together.
Does this code have to be released under GPL license?
What about if I am planning on hosting the service myself (no distribution), can I make this commercially available?
And if I did have to release it under GPL (which I really don't have a problem with) would I then have to make the source code available to the public OR would I simply have to make it available to my clients, say, give them FTP to freely access the code.
And if I did plan on releasing it as a product for sale, is that in violation of GPL?
The code used to stitch together all these open source software packages might be modifications to their source code as well. Does this make a difference?
Would it even be possible for me to release such a package and make it available to the public for free?

I would like to say though I am very thankful for the work the Joomla team has done. Thank you for helping me clarify this stuff up. I would like to note too, I don't plan on hiding the fact that I would be using Joomla and exactly which other open source software packages. It would be more the service for hosting and upkeeping the site that I would be charging for. I am a huge fan of open source software and want to contribute where I can, this is why I want to know if I can even release such a package myself, since it would be re-distributing Joomla and other packages.

You never have to release something you write. If you do release it, however, if sounds like it should be released as gpl (but you can never say for sure in advance)



yes



Just to your clients. They, however, could distribute or modify.




No. Selling gpl'd software is totally acceptable.



If it modifies gpl'd software then it would have to be gpl or another compatible license.



Yes.

Cool thanks for the quick response! You've definitely answered all my concerns. Thanks for getting to the point  . Hopefully these questions and answer will help other who are confused as well.

Hi all, 

My compliments for this thread.
@ mcsmom:  The awnsers you gave were very clear.
@ apotropaic:  Your questions were very much to the point. Excellent, you do not seem to be confused at all. 

Kind regards,