Note that there may also be legal issues with combining certain nonfree libraries with gplcovered free software. Aug 27, 2007 however, most of the good code is gpl d, which requires releasing modifications and statically linked libraries back to the community under the gpl. Why should i use the gnu gpl rather than other free software licenses. It restricts you from using software to build nongpl software including bsdlicensed free software, but it prevents software from being taken private by commercial developers. Previous to red hat, jeffrey served as patent and open source counsel for qualcomm incorporated and director of. If you want an example of including gpld software as part of a commercial offering, look at os x.
The documentation shipped with the library and made available over the web, excluding the pages generated from source comments, are ed by the free software foundation, and placed under the gnu free documentation license version 1. Why the gpl is incompatible with commercial software. However, businesses using gnu software in commercial activity, and people doing public ftp distribution, should need to check the real english gpl to make sure of. I have a concern of using gpl v2 and gpl v3 licensed software in commercial production environment. The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. Being a data scientist in a startup i can program with several languages, but often r is a natural choice. If it depends on a nonfree library to run at all, it cannot be part of a free. Can i use the gplv3 license for my commercial application. Frequently answered questions open source initiative. The lgpl is intended to be a license for libraries. In that case, the library cannot give free software any particular advantage, so it is better to use the lesser gpl for that library.
Standard libraries including the base class library are not included in this article. Can i use gpl software binaries in commercial environment. Jul 24, 2018 when the copyleft agpl was first published, many leaders in the open source community had something to say about the issue of a supposed loophole in the gpl open source license that allowed saas companies to integrate gpl open source libraries without sharing their code. Richard stallman and the fsf specifically encourage librarywriters to license under the gpl so that proprietary. In other words, the product distributed is not really the software itself but its output. It is the licensees and only the licensees who must be granted assess to the source code. Recently i wanted my company to build a product based on r. A copy of that license is included in this document on page x. As a free software license, much of the stewardship and support for the gpl has been driven by the free software foundation. The term open source was coined by christine peterson and adopted in 1998 by the founders of the open source initiative.
Can i use gpl libraries on commercial apps without open source. Using open source libraries with closed source software. Richard stallman created the gpl to protect the gnu software from being made proprietary. Despite the critical role the gpl plays in the advance of linux, not many people understand its terms.
The licenses were originally written by richard stallman, former head of the free software foundation fsf, for the gnu project, and grant the recipients of a. The licenses were originally written by richard stallman, former head of the free software foundation fsf, for the gnu project, and grant the recipients of a computer program the rights of the free software. The implication is that gpled software is not necessarily free from cost, and therefore you can in fact license your programs under the gpl and still sell them for money. Just want to extra clarify the statement it wont infect thats exactly what the gpl license is designed to do be viral. Haufig gestellte fragen zur gnu gplv2 free software foundation. Using gpllicensed components in proprietary projects. The creative commons attributionsharealike international license version 4. The most common case is when a free library s features are readily available for proprietary software through other libraries.
As a result, developers who use or distribute open source applications under the gpl can use the gpllicensed mysql software, and oems, isvs and vars that do not want to. Lgpl the lesser gnu general public license the lgpl the lesser gpl is a modified version of the gpl that has an exemption allowing a library to be dynamically linked see section 4 with a program without requiring the program itself to be licensed under the gpl or lpgl. Legal issues are a constant source of questions and confusion. Gnu is trying to encourage opensource developers to license their libraries under gpl because it gives opensource community a huge advantage. It is a specific implementation of his copyleft concept. There are no frontcover texts, no backcover texts, and no invariant sections. You may obtain the complete corresponding source code from us for a period of three years after our last shipment of this product, which will be no earlier than 20110801, by sending a money order or. In the discussion following this editorial at freshmeat, matthias ettrich of kde fame claims that its ok for a commercial application to use gpld libraries. As a result, developers who use or distribute open source applications under the gpl can use the gpl licensed mysql software, and oems, isvs and vars that do not want to combine or distribute the mysql software with their. Ffmpeg is licensed under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl version 2.
It would certainly make this plea from rms redundant not to mention the lgpl, but cou. The software included in this product contains ed software that is licensed under the gpl. For example, type the following command to find a copy of that file in your linux system for various items. I again dont so much care about the ethics bsds just fine as i do about the commercial impact. Proprietary software developers, seeking to deny the free competition an important advantage, will try to convince authors not to contribute libraries to the gplcovered collection. This is an attempt to clarify the most important issues. Why you shouldnt use the library gpl for your next. The gpl faq list states explicitly that one can ask for license fees for software under the gpl see, e. Thus, the terms and conditions of the gnu general public license cover the whole combination. Can i legally incorporate gpl software in a proprietary, closedsource web app. Ohhhh, now i get itthis is an attempt to make modify in the agpl mean something different from modify in the gpl itself, such that you can do things that would be considered modifying in the gpl and hence trigger copyleft and claim they dont constitute modifying for purposes of the extra proviso in the agpl and hence wont trigger copyleft, so you can incorporate agpl code into. Feb 25, 2006 advocates of the gnu general public license gnu gpl like to perpetuate the idea that programs released under it are free as in speech, not free as in beer. I worked for trolltech, and then later nokia who bought t. Frequently asked questions about version 2 of the gnu gpl.
I have read the gpl faq and i think that this one may apply. Modification of lgpld components suggests contribution back to the creatormaintainer. Neither does the gpl state that the source code has to be made public. Therefore, if you distribute a program linked against a gpl library, you had best.
Open source software and libraries sukhwinder randhawa abstract. Verwendung gpllizenzierter komponenten in kommerziellen. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. The software that i am refering to is qgis which provides this description. The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a series of widely used free software. If the software is calling dynamically linked, gpl licensed libraries, will i need to make the entire project gpl.
Can i use libraries with gpl licenses on commercial apps without open source. It is therefore often thought that gpllicensed software is unsuitable for proprietary projects. This has implications for proprietary andor commercial software developers, as many popular and important libraries are licensed under the gpl. The most widespread such license is the gnu general public license, or gnu gpl for short. Some features, such as support for some external libraries libx264 and libx265 for example and various filters, are covered by the gnu general public license gpl version 2 or later see commercial x264 license exception below. May 27, 2016 gpl the gnu general public license the gpl is a copyleft software licence 1 published by the usbased free software foundation. Can i use an open source library licensed under apache. Communications on law stack exchange are not privileged communications and do not create an attorneyclient relationship. Qgis is a user friendly open source geographic information system gis licensed under the gnu general public license.
Open source library softwares does not need the initial cost of commercial software and enables libraries to have greater control over their working environment. Whenever changes are made under gpl license, source codes are required and changes must also be licensed under gpl, while lgpl may allow nongpl programs to link to libraries but must still provide source codes. This article contains a list of libraries that can be used in. Apr 17, 2010 the gpl is tactically less free, but strategically more free. A gpl linking exception modifies the gnu general public license gpl in a way that enables software projects which provide library code to be linked to the programs that use them, without applying the full terms of the gpl to the using program. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu project. But it may be used in proprietary applications without these applications becoming free software. The usual disclaimers apply, this is not legal advice. I would like to use haproxy as a load balancing solution. Open source software is, software that users have the ability to run, copy, distribute, study, change, share and improve for any purpose. A company is running a modified version of a gpl ed program on a web site. Android question can i use gpl libraries on commercial apps.
Why you should use a bsd style license for your open. However you must license qt under the lgpl and discharge your responsibilities under that license. Net core, which provide a basis for software development, platform independence, language interoperability and extensive framework libraries. In all cases, the exact requirements are determined by the applicable license. Im not clear on how that affects your products licensing.
Gpl is mostly for programs while lgpl is limited to software libraries. Why the gpl is incompatible with commercial software filed on feb 25, 2006 by anthony disante 31 replies. Does the gpl say they must release their modified sources. Can i link a gpl program with a proprietary system library. The gpl guarantees everyone with the software identical permissions. Kaufman is senior commercial counsel open source legal team for red hat, inc. But this turned out to be a slippery slope into the opensource code licensing field, which continue reading how gpl makes me leave r for python. Software that detects gpl violations august 2007 forums. As a result, developers who use or distribute open source applications under the gpl can use the gpllicensed mysql software, and oems, isvs and vars that do not want to combine or distribute the mysql software with their. A practical guide to gpl compliance software freedom law. Why you should use a bsd style license for your open source. In addition, see the oracle mysql licensing page, where this very issue is discussed.
Gpl compatible software is software whose conditions of propagation, modification and use would permit combination with gcc in accord with the license of gcc. For example, they may appeal to the ego, promising more users for this library if we let them use the code in proprietary software products. However, most of the good code is gpld, which requires releasing modifications and statically linked libraries back to the community under the gpl. Gpl the gnu general public license the gpl is a copyleft software licence 1 published by the usbased free software foundation. He also started a nonprofit foundation, the free software foundation fsf, which intended to develop an entire operating system, including all associated software, that would not be subject to proprietary licensing. Its built with and comes with an awful lot of gpld software. If software is licenced under a gpl license, can it be used without restriction in a corporatecommercial environment. The term free software is older, and is reflected in the name of the free software foundation fsf, an organization founded in 1985 to protect and promote free software.
The main idea here is that the library remains free software. Its very common for developers to want to use opensource libraries and frameworks. The source code for the arduino environment is covered by the gpl, which requires any modifications to be opensourced under the same license. Can i use gpl software in a commercial application software. Linking is the technical process of connecting code in a library to the using code, to produce a single executable file. Any modifications to the core and libraries must be released under the lgpl. I do not want to talk about open source since that is the slogan of people who disagree fundamentally with me and with the free software. Oracle makes its mysql database server and mysql client libraries available under both the gpl and a commercial license. Using gpl licensed components in proprietary projects. Can gnu licensed software be used for commercial gain. Linking is the technical process of connecting code in a library to the using code, to produce a.
Modification of l gpl d components suggests contribution back to the creatormaintainer. In some senses, thats very permissive because the aggregate permissiveness is maximized. It restricts you from using software to build non gpl software including bsdlicensed free software, but it prevents software from being taken private by commercial developers. The text of the gnu general public license gpl is in a file named copying in various directories in your linux system. Aug 26, 2008 early gpl enforcement efforts began soon after the gpl was written by richard stallman in 1989, and consisted of informal community efforts, often in public usenet discussions. Difference between gpl and lgpl compare the difference. If its worth money to you its important to get your licensing right. This can be further shortened to gpl, when it is understood that the gnu gpl is the one intended. I understand you clarify fairly well the terms where it can infect by saying unless you link to it but i want people to understand that literally unless you do anything but drop a gpl based executable or shared library used only by a gpl executable, that is. Jan 31, 2019 being a data scientist in a startup i can program with several languages, but often r is a natural choice. The agpl makes straightforward commercial sense we use it. Why you shouldnt use the lesser gpl for your next library. Top 10 gnu gpl license questions answered whitesource.
A company is running a modified version of a gpled program on a web site. If you releasedistribute software using lgpld libraries, your software doesnt need to be covered by the gpl, but the libraries must retain the lgpl. A practical guide to gpl compliance software freedom law center. Its built with and comes with an awful lot of gpl d software. Stallman devised an alternative to the commercial software license and called it the gpl, or gnu public license. Software licensed under the gnu general public license is free software, and all software that builds on gpllicensed components is also free and must also be licensed under the gpl. If you want an example of including gpl d software as part of a commercial offering, look at os x.
In the discussion following this editorial at freshmeat, matthias ettrich of kde fame claims that its ok for a commercial application to use gpl d libraries. The answer to both questions is the gpl, or gnu general public license, the software license that governs the linux kernel and other opensource software. It does not prevent the sale of derivative software or its inclusion in commercial products. As much as i love the work of the free software foundation, their focus has ultimately been anchored from the perspective that software absolutely has to be 100% free. If that commercial application is what youre selling, then youre giving a copy of that software in exchange for money. If youre distributing unmodified binaries along with a product you ship, then you re required to distribute the source with them, or provide a.
This is why we used the lesser gpl for the gnu c library. The following licenses are in use for r or associated software such as packages. Jeffrey also serves as adjunct professor of law at the university of north carolina. Many of stallmans coworkers had left to form two companies based on software developed at mit and licensed by mit.
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