Learn more about how Mambo is licensed and how this affects you.

Mambo is released under Version 2 of the GNU General Public license (GNU/GPL).The GNU/GPL provides for a person or persons to distribute Mambo for a fee, but not actually charging for the software itself, because Mambo is free.

Mambo is free to share and change, but if you do change it in anyway, can you also change the license and make it commercial? No! The whole GPL is devoted to ensuring this does not happen. Copyright, a much more refined and stringent law will prevent this as well.

So with regard to Mambo, the GPL and copyright:
You MAY distribute it and charge for that service. You MAY change it, add design and content to it and you MAY charge for that. You may NOT alter the license and you must NOT alter the copyright. You do NOT have to show a 'Powered by Mambo' graphic, as it not a copyright notice.

In other words, you must NOT pretend that Mambo is yours, and you must NOT charge people for Mambo. Use Mambo to empower yourself and your clients by taking away the 'Black Magic' that surrounds putting content on the internet. Charge for the value you add and not for the hard work that the Mambo Foundation, the Mambo Development Team and the Mambo community have put into it.

Guidelines:

Mambo is free software released under Version 2 of the GNU General Public License (GPL).
The word "free" has two legitimate general meanings; it can refer either to freedom or to price. When we speak of "free software", we're talking about freedom, not price. (Think of "free speech", not "free beer".)
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (Access to the source code is a precondition for this.)
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour.
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits. (Access to the source code is a precondition for this)

1. What license is Mambo released under?

Mambo is released under the GNU/GPL, Version 2. A copy of this is included with your copy of Mambo and can also be found at http://www.fsf.org/licenses/gpl.html. Unofficial translations can also be found at http://www.fsf.org/licenses/translations.html.

2. Who owns the copyright to Mambo?

The copyright to Mambo is held by the Mambo Foundation, Inc, a non profit corporation organized under the laws of Australia and run by the membership.

3. Are there any restrictions to your use of Mambo?

The GNU GPL grants you the freedom to use the software for whatever purpose you see fit.

4. May I charge money for Mambo?

The GPL allows everyone the freedom to do this. The right to charge money to distribute Mambo is part of the definition of "free" software.
When people think of "selling software", they usually imagine doing it the way most companies do it: making the software proprietary rather than free. So to avoid ambiguity you may you may charge to distribute the software and any other service you provide along the way. You may not charge for the software itself. Remember if someone pays your fee the GPL also gives him or her the freedom to pass on the software with or without a fee.

5. May I remove "powered by Mambo, Copyright Mambo Foundation etc" from the footer?

Yes you may, although we would hope that you would retain it to help spread the word about Mambo.

6. May I remove the "copyright" statements from the source code to Mambo?

No, you must keep all copyright notices and credits in the source code.

7. Does the GPL mean that my website content is also GPL?

No. The copyright and license of Mambo does not cover the content that you create. Using Mambo does not place any restrictions, legally, on the license or copyright you use for the content of your website.

8. I have modified Mambo for my own web site. Do I have to release these modifications?

The GPL permits anyone to make a modified version for their own use without the requirement to distribute it or pass on those changes to others.

9. I have made a modification (hack) to the Mambo core code. Do I have to release it under the GPL?

If you chose to distribute your modifications to others it must be released under the same terms that you received the original code. So your modifications must be released under the GPL. You may of course in this case modify the headers for the source code to include your own copyright statement. If you do so you must clearly annotate in the source code your amendments, changes or additions.

10. I have written a Component, Module, Template for Mambo. Do I have to release it under the GPL?

No. The GPL allows you to write your own extensions for Mambo and to release those extensions under whatever license you choose.

11. I have written a Component, Module, Template for Mambo and released it under the GPL and I charge a fee for it, but website X is giving it away for free.

If someone pays your fee the GPL also gives him or her the freedom to pass on the software with or without a fee. Placing a restriction on someone's use of GPL licensed software is in breach of the GPL itself.

12. May I purchase a copy of Mambo, which has the copyright statements removed?

No. Some GPL products are distributed that way (often called “dual licensing”) but Mambo is not.

13. I believe someone is in breach of the GPL, what should I do?

You should report it. First check all the facts that you can and then report it by sending a message to the license violations manager.

14. Who has the power to enforce the GNU GPL license of Mambo?

Only the copyright holder, the Mambo Foundation, has the power to do this. If the Mambo Development Team finds, or is made aware of, a breach of the GPL, they will report it to the Foundation for them to take any necessary action.

15. Website X is using, or offering, my non-GPL Component, Module, Template without my permission, or in breach of its license, can you help me?

Whilst this is not within the remit or responsibility of Mambo we are willing to act as intermediaries in this on your behalf. In most cases these situations arise out of simple misunderstandings and can be settled amicably. You should provide full details to the license violations manager.

15. What about translations of Mambo? Who owns those?

All translation files, as they are derived works of the original Mambo files, are licensed under the GNU/GPL. Copyright is held by the authors of the translations. Official translation packages are copyright the Mambo Foundation.

DISCLAIMER

This document refers to the software program Mambo, Version 4.x and all subsequent versions, released under the GNU General Public License and copyright Mambo Foundation, Inc.
This document is subject to additions, modifications and other changes at any time without notice.
A lawyer has not prepared this document. You should consult a lawyer experienced in copyright, licensing and intellectual property for clarification.