PyQt, Qt, Windows and Linux

[Phil Thompson]

On Sunday 16 November 2003 11:46 pm, Jim wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 21:05:06 +0000, Phil Thompson 
<phil at riverbankcomputing.co.uk> wrotf:
> >On Sunday 16 November 2003 8:30 pm, Jim wrote:
> >> On 3 Nov 2003 13:21:56 -0800, codeapocalypse at msn.com (Brian) wrotf:
> >> >Alex Martelli <aleax at aleax.it> wrote in message news:<KVcpb.399539$R32.
> >> >
> >> >>Vamsi Mudrageda wrote:
> >> >>> 2) Do I need to buy a license from TrollTech?
> >> >>
> >> >> Yes, or from one of Trolltech's licensed resellers of licenses.  The
> >> >> cheapest way you can proceed, I believe, is to buy Blackadder,
> >> >> personal edition, from theKompany.com: it comes with personal-use
> >> >> licenses of PyQt and Qt for both Linux and Windows (I _think_ mac,
> >> >> too, but I don't know about that).  I believe it currently costs US
> >> >> $70 .
> >> >
> >> >Note that according to the BlackAdder page at thecompany.com, you must
> >> >purchase the business edition ($400, currently) if you want the right
> >> >to distribute the run-time elements of it.  I'm not sure if the OP
> >> >only wanted to distribute an app for use on his own windows box, or
> >> >distribute his application on the net for use by others.
> >> >
> >> >Trolltech's pricing strategy, for me, keeps me on wxWindows.  Qt does
> >> >seem like an excellent product, however.
> >>
> >> Could someone please explain this to me. I am still a little confused. I
> >> am just about to buy BlackAdder but want to make sure it will suit my
> >> needs.
> >>
> >> The question I have is this;  if I get the Personal Edition, I know I
> >> can't distribute the run-time elements commercially (sell my programs)
> >> but can I in distribute them in a non-commercial way?
> >
> >No. Personal means personal to you.
> >
> >Phil
>
> Thanks for the info, Phil. Can you help me out a little more? Honestly, I
> have spent the last 3 days searching the Internet for an answer and can't
> seem figure this out.
>
> One person (I think is was someone from theKompany) said that there was no
> functional difference between the Personal Edition and the Business Edition
> but I think you just told me the opposite. If I buy the Personal Edition
> and use it to write my program, I won't have the capability to run that
> software on any other computer besides my own (personal to me) ... not even
> my wife's computer downstairs, i.e., so the runtime elements don't come
> with the Personal Edition - which makes it functionally different?

No, the functionality is the same (but is a subset of "normal" PyQt).

> theKompany web page says the Business Edition is "for commercial use." From
> my understanding, commercial means of or relating to commerce and commerce
> is buying and selling products and I'm not selling anything. This is really
> confusing. I want to honor whatever licence I buy but it doesn't seem
> reasonable that I would have to pay $400 so I can give my own program away
> freely.

The difference between the two versions is the right to re-distribute the BA 
version of PyQt (and the embedded Qt) with your application. With the 
Personal Edition you have no such right - so your users must have their own 
copy.

The Business Edition gives you the right to re-distribute the BA version of 
PyQt. Whether or not you make a charge to your users is entirely up to you. 
Note that your users do not have the right to further re-distribute.

Phil