110
votes
Accepted
If GitHub interacts with Git, and Git is licensed under GPLv2, shouldn't GitHub be open source?
3 reasons why:
According to the terms of the GPL, people accessing GitHub via the web is not considered releasing (or propagating in GPLv3 terms), and so GitHub is not required to share their source ...
- 27.7k
105
votes
What does "GPL with classpath exception" mean in practice?
First off, I Am Not A Lawyer. But I have studied many licenses and understand issues concerning them.
Second, I know this is an old question, but I think it still is a point of confusion and concern....
- 1,289
19
votes
Can you change code distributed under the MIT license, and re-distribute it under the GPL license?
Nothing to add to the explanations in the answers already given, but here are instructions for how to shape your source file headers (source):
2.2 Adding GPL’d modifications to permissive-licensed ...
- 343
18
votes
Accepted
Dual license with GPL and a closed source license
As the copyright holder, you can do whatever you wish with your own code. Nothing prevents you from closing your own source in your own projects, if you hold the copyright.
Use whatever closed-...
- 199k
15
votes
Accepted
Distributing GPL-ed software with lost source code
No, the GPL only allows to distribute software when the sourcecode is available. When Jerry releases it without source, he is violating Tom's copyright.
However, when it is really that important, ...
- 23.3k
14
votes
Accepted
Licensing on Github
If you are putting source code available to the public, then yes, you do need to be aware of the licenses that your third-party libraries are released under. Even if you don't put them into your ...
- 80.4k
14
votes
Accepted
Can I use some GPL code in LGPL project?
The combination of GPL code and LGPL code must be licensed under the GPL. If you want to use that code, you'll have to change your license, or refrain from using it. If the other project would want ...
- 134k
11
votes
Accepted
Using output of GNU GPL software in commercial purposes
That's not what that clause is about.
Is there some way that I can GPL the output people get from use of my program? For example, if my program is used to develop hardware designs, can I require ...
- 108k
10
votes
Accepted
Charging a fee for GPL software
You can charge a fee for software covered by the GNU GPL. It's totally fine. The GNU project encourages you to charge what you can. GNU's "Free Software" philosophy is "about freedom, not price".
If ...
- 216
10
votes
Accepted
Why does the LGPL require combined works to include a copy of the GPL?
The LGPL is not a license of its own, but an extension of the GPL. It states:
This version of the GNU Lesser General Public License incorporates the terms and conditions of version 3 of the GNU ...
- 134k
10
votes
When does a modification of GPL code stop being one?
When the court in the lawsuit says so. That is the ultimate standard by which decisions like this are made.
In your example of taking boilerplate code and plugging in your functionality, if the ...
- 51.1k
9
votes
Dual license with GPL and a closed source license
For open-sourcing your code for others to use, you're right that GPL will make sure that people can't create closed source derivatives. GPL will force them to share their derivatives under the same ...
- 191
8
votes
What happens when a software that is open source without any license is later licensed with gpl version 3?
The software that will be making use of is open source
No, it isn't. You said that it has no license. Then it isn't open source. If it has no license that grants you specific rights in addition to ...
- 103k
7
votes
GPL source code access in subscription model?
Just a follow up
service agreement stated that the user only has the rights to the client as long as their subscription is active.
If the client is GPL'd then this clause makes it incompatible. ...
- 6,742
7
votes
Accepted
Adding a new file to a GPL project - how do I carry along/modify copyright information?
There are two separate copyrights in play when you contribute to an open-source project. There's the copyright on your individual contribution, and then there's a copyright on the entire collective ...
- 1,265
7
votes
Accepted
Is restricting endorsement using author's name compatible with GPL?
The modified BSD license (also called BSD 3-Clause License) contains the exact same sentence:
(3)The name of the author may not be used to
endorse or promote products derived from this ...
- 309
7
votes
Can government use a GNU GPL licensed sofware (phpBB) without posting the source code?
The GPL licence does not requires you to publish the modifications. It only requires that if you provide the software to someone, you should provide him the source code and the right to distribute it.
...
- 686
7
votes
Can I include a GPL v3 binary with my proprietary application if I prompt the user to download it at install time?
Not distributing the binary of the library does not shield you from legal risk. The question you should be asking is not "can I legally distribute a GPL v3 licensed library with my proprietary app", ...
- 1,263
6
votes
How to document a dual open source license?
In all cases, the README.md should contain a a SPDX license identifier:
SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-2.0-or-later
You can do it like that:
## License
This work is dual-licensed ...
- 537
6
votes
Accepted
I released my project under GPL. Can I still use it in my commercial app?
Yes, you can release the portions that you own (in this case, the library before modifications were made by other contributors) under one or more other licenses. Those other licenses could be anything ...
- 80.4k
6
votes
GPL-3.0 based code in proprietary web application
That is completely fine as long as you do not impose any restrictions on what the client can do with the source code you give them (other than the ones imposed by the GPL itself).
Specifically, since ...
- 27.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Can I release software under the GPL if it must be built with a proprietary compiler?
The GNU GPL FAQ has some related questions:
Can I link a GPL program with a proprietary system library?
Can I write free software that uses non-free libraries?
I'd like to incorporate GPL-covered ...
- 80.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Creating a private in-house application with Qt
Use of a software internally is not considered a conveyance by the GPL, so you wouldn't have to give source code to anyone.
The moment you decide to distribute your software to any third party, then ...
- 27.7k
6
votes
Using GNU GPL V3 on a project. Reuse and modify foreign code
The original owner is the copyright owner, GPL or not. Replacing his copyright notice with your own means you are making a fraudulent claim that you are the copyright owner. Apart from that it's a ...
- 43.6k
6
votes
If GitHub interacts with Git, and Git is licensed under GPLv2, shouldn't GitHub be open source?
In addition to the other answers, I would add that the FSF's views on when two cooperating programs form a single work are quite vague:
https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html#...
- 936
6
votes
Accepted
If you manage a BSD-licensed open source project, how do you guard against someone illegally contributing GPL-licensed code?
One does not simply "guard against" illegal contributions.
You never accept blindly a contribution, and should have a process to vet contributions (including yours) for several kinds of ...
- 2,431
6
votes
Accepted
GPL with exception to use without publishing the source
You have some confusing terminology in there.
The GPL does not permit what you claim the library allowed you to do.
The LGPL (Lesser GPL, formerly Library GPL) does.
What it sounds like you are ...
- 18.1k
6
votes
For GPL, do trained neural network models count as source code?
The GPL is quite clear that its concern is with the distribution of the sources of a system in the preferred form of the work for making changes in it. Nobody develops a neural network by editing ...
- 108k
5
votes
Charging a fee for GPL software
The GPL license does not forbid you to ask money for obtaining your program.
However, when using the GPL, there is usually not much sense in asking money, because users of your program must have the ...
- 73.3k
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