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I'm really concerned because a need to know if Ubuntu is totally free for a company. I mean, if I use a private software, I have to pay that license package, but Have I to pay for use Ubuntu? Have I to get a license?

pomsky
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Adrian
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3 Answers3

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Yes. Simply put Ubuntu is open source and free for anyone to use, including commercial use. Nice, huh!?

However looking at it more closely, you see that Ubuntu consists of a lot of individual packages and each can have its own license. That's important to keep in mind about redistributing software as not all software in all repositories is fully FOSS. See also my answer to Why are some programs in the Ubuntu Software Center not open source?.

I suggest you to read up on Ubuntu Licensing.

Community
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gertvdijk
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Ubuntu is typically free to use. Canonical (the backers of Ubuntu) provide enterprise support for the Desktop, Cloud, and Server OS which costs money. However, that's just part of an enterprise maintenance agreement.

Colyn1337
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There are free ways to use Ubuntu and have it all nice and up to date. However, the most obvious way to use Ubuntu freely - and probably the only sane option for most users is absolutely not free.

Ubuntu has LTS versions that are stable. If you are a commercial user and want to just run software and not spend a lot of time tweaking your system then this is the way to go. The description of LTS is that it will receive free updates for 5 years after the release date. Except that the "updates" do not include the many packages that Ubuntu includes and that normal use would see as essential. For example openjdk, python-pip and apache mod security. These packages are in the "universe" repo.

Let's suppose a user installs the Ubuntu packaging for these projects. If there is a security vulnerability reported then you will not get the updates to fix it, unless you pay the money for a pro license. Updates for these packages are often available in Debian but the fixes in Debian will not filter through to the LTS versions, even after years. It's clear why this is in terms of SDLC: LTS is stable and should not be altered. Altering stuff in a stable distribution will involve testing and a lot of other work.

But to answer the question if "Ubuntu is totally free for a company" in practical terms, no it isn't. To run Ubuntu securely there are three options:

  1. Install the non LTS interim releases and keep them up to date yourself: this is "free" but involves work on your part to keep on a treadmill of releases

  2. Pay the $$$ and get access to esm-apps

  3. Don't use the Ubuntu package versions of anything in Universe, install it yourself from source. Again, involves work for you.

For most commercial users the second option is the most sane. Or use a different distribution with a different policy if you don't like it!

Vorsprung
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