Use tcpdump in commerical apps?

[arcull]

Hi there. I plan to program an app that would monitor http trafic and have found tcpdump TCPDUMP/LIBPCAP public repository very useful. The app shall serve my personal needs for the start, but if turns out useful I may offer it for sell. Now I wonder if I can use this utility in my app. Must my app then be a freeware (kind a GPL) or can I sell it (commercial version)? I haven't' found much info on there site, so any suggestion or maybe contact person would be useful. Thanks in advance.

[Irithori]

Neither libpcap nor tcpdump are GPL, but BSD license.

LICENSE at master from mcr's libpcap - GitHub
LICENSE at master from mcr's tcpdump - GitHub

The terms are very short and clear, as you will read.


But as this is a forum about linux / open source I would
like to encourage you to consider a open source licence
for your application.

This does not neccesarily rule out selling your software.
Selling Free Software - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)

[arcull]

Thanks Irithori, but I'm not sure I understand the licence fully. From what I read, I understood that I can use it (with original disclaimer,...) but it is not mentioned for what type of use (freeware, commercial), does this mean any type? However I will consider distributing my app as freeware , but still I wan't to make sure what I can and what I can't. Thanks again.

[Irithori]

yes, with the licences of tcpdump and libpcap,
you can include binary or source in your own app, if you include these
licence files in your distribution package.
Your app can then have any type of licence you wish.

[GNU-Fan]

Hi,

Must my app then be a freeware (kind a GPL) or can I sell it (commercial version)?

note that "freeware" is different from "Free Software". The former means proprietary (e.g. source code withheld) software given away without charging a price.

Free Software doesn't make any statements about how much one charges for it, as Irithori already has pointed out.

[arcull]

thanks for explanation guys