# Commercial distribution and sale

This document records release requirements; it is not legal advice.

SmartCut64 is free software licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later. The GPL permits
charging any price for copies, support, installation, updates, or other
services. Every recipient must nevertheless retain the GPL rights to run,
study, modify, and redistribute the program, including redistribution without
payment to the original seller.

## Requirements for every binary release

1. Distribute the complete GPL text, COPYRIGHT, THIRD_PARTY.md, dependency
   licence texts, and the SBOM with the binaries.
2. Provide the complete corresponding source for the exact released binaries,
   including SmartCut64 source, local patches, dependency sources, interface
   files, and build/install scripts. For an Internet download, publish the
   matching source beside the binary with equivalent access.
3. Do not impose an EULA, activation system, store term, DRM rule, or contract
   that forbids copying, modification, reverse engineering, replacement of
   dynamically linked LGPL libraries, or redistribution allowed by the GPL and
   LGPL. Any commercial warranty or support terms must be clearly separate.
4. Preserve all copyright, licence, attribution, warranty, and modification
   notices. Identify FFmpeg and Qt use prominently in the application and on
   every product download page.
5. Publish the binary, installer, corresponding-source archive, SBOM, and
   checksums as one versioned release set. Sign the binaries and installer when
   a trusted signing identity is available.

## Official-binary paid entitlement

The seller's official binaries may require a signed paid entitlement for clean
video output and produce visibly marked Evaluation output otherwise. Online
purchase activation must disclose the purchase email, licence key, one-way
Installation ID, processors, retention, transfer, refund, and service-shutdown
policy. That commercial distinction must be described as a property of the
seller's official build, update, and support service, not as an additional
restriction on the GPL program. Recipients remain entitled to inspect, change,
rebuild, and redistribute the entitlement implementation and must receive
everything needed to do so. Do not include the private licence-signing key in
corresponding source; it is independent seller authentication data, just as a
code-signing private key is. Obtain specific legal review of this distinction,
customer wording, machine transfers, expiry, refunds, privacy, and any
anti-circumvention law before sale. See `docs/PAID_ENTITLEMENTS.md`.

## Rights not supplied by the source-code licences

The GPL, LGPL, and permissive component licences do not themselves grant every
patent, trademark, certification, content, or branding right that a commercial
seller may need. SmartCut64 implements codecs and metadata technologies that
may be covered by patents in some countries. Commercial distribution must not
begin until qualified counsel has assessed the intended countries, sales
model, codecs, and the current terms of the relevant patent licensors or pools.

The SmartCut64 name and artwork require a proper clearance search before use in
commerce. VideoReDo and all third-party product or technology names are the
property of their respective owners. Compatibility references must be factual,
nominative, and must not imply sponsorship, certification, endorsement, or
continuation of another product.

No Dolby certification or generic Dolby Vision support claim is made. Product
copy must state the exact tested Dolby Vision profiles and operations and must
not use third-party logos without permission.

## Release decision

The project is not approved for sale merely because automated tests pass. A
commercial release requires, at minimum, a clean release-gate run, matching
source delivery, code signing, broad manual player/format testing, trademark
clearance, codec-patent review, and independent review of the complete licence
and customer terms by a qualified lawyer.
