If I license my app with GNU GPL3, does that prevent me from selling it on android market? [closed]

Question

I'm using Google Code to host my application code, its conveniant and the SVN repository means I don't have to worry about backups

When you create a project on there you need to select a license, I chose GNU GPL v3.

By doing so, does that prevent me from selling my application on the Android market place?

Answer 1

It doesn't prevent you selling it, despite the license you still own the code and can issue it under whatever licenses you so desire. It does mean that anyone can take your code, compile it and install it on their Android without paying you a penny but that's probably a small portion of those who might want a good app.

Answer 2

No. It just means no one can distribute your software without including the source or an offer to send the source.

You should really read the license before you choose to use it...

Answer 3

Many people believe that the spirit of the GNU Project is that you should not charge money for distributing copies of software, or that you should charge as little as possible — just enough to cover the cost. This is a misunderstanding.

...

Distributing free software is an opportunity to raise funds for development. Don't waste it!

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.html

Answer 4

It doesn't prevent you from selling your app on the market or anywhere else. However the source code must be available to everyone who bought it and you cannot prevent copying and modification.

An important thing about GPL is that there are no such thing as "end users" : you have no more rights than your users. For example they can take your app, modify (or not) it and publish it under another name as long as they include the (modified) source code. This is called "forking".

However you still own your code. It means that it you are the only developer, you can change the license of future releases. But keep in mind that switching to something more restrictive can result in forking.

Answer 5

To Wooble's answer I'd like to add that the GPL not only guarantees that people must (offer to) distribute the source code when distributing your program, but also that any changes they make must be compatibly licensed if they distribute the changes in compiled or source form. This latter part means that if someone else builds on your work, say by making their own app, they have to share it with the world under the same terms as you do.