So im remaking a product and was approaching qt about the. Keep in mind, however, that the lgplrelated requirements kick in only when you start distributing your software outside of your school, lab, or company. The commercial product includes services such as support, maintenance, professional services, integration, or the like. Difference between gpl and lgpl difference between. I use launch4j to create a windows executable from the applications jar file, this makes much easier to install and launch the software. 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. The gpl is far, far more authorfriendly than the bsd license is. From lgpl to polyform noncommercial from version 5, we have changed the license from lgpl to polyform noncommercial 1. See how to choose a license for your own work for general recommendations about choosing a license for your work the gnu project has two principal licenses to use for libraries.
Launch4j has an opportunity to use a bundled jre, so. The rep was very insistent that i can not develop an internal prototype using the open source license and then move to the commercial license. How can i legally use lgpl javascript in a commercial web site. Keep in mind, however, that the lgpl related requirements kick in only when you start distributing your software outside of your school, lab, or company. Describes the ability to use the software for commercial purposes. Why you shouldnt use the lesser gpl for your next library.
The most widespread use of lgpl is in reference to the gnu lgpl. 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. To try to get more developers to adopt open source library usage, the gnu library general public license was created. That you distribute the code, and any changes to it, under the terms of the lgpl. Open source licenses grant permission for anybody to use, modify, and share licensed software for any purpose, subject to conditions preserving the provenance and openness of the software. The commercial qt license gives you the full rights to create and distribute software on your own terms without any open source license obligations.
See this page for clarification on the different kinds of licenses. The gnu project has two principal licenses to use for libraries. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. Difference between gpl and lgpl compare the difference. The lgpl basically requires read the full license and faq for details you mention that it is licensed under the lgpl, with reference to the full.
The agpl makes straightforward commercial sense we use it. Gpl, also known as copyleft, grants permission to reuse or modify the source code to make derivative works, but if you distribute your program to others, it requires you to license your derivative work under the gpl too. Gnu lesser general public license lgpl the gnu lesser general public license was originally named the library general public license. I again dont so much care about the ethics bsds just fine as i do about the commercial impact. Using jasperreports in a commercial software jaspersoft. If opensource software is licensed under the lgpl, other software developers may use it for their software development projects even if their projects are closedsource or otherwise proprietary or commercial in nature.
While you may download our software product under the lgpl free of charge, we also offer our software under a commercial license. This is a list of proprietary sourceavailable software, which has available source code, but is not classified as free software or opensource software. Anything statically linked to the library can only be redistributed under lgpl, but applications that use the library. Gpl vs lgpl gpl and lgpl are software licenses that protect the freedom of the users to share andor change open source software.
How can i legally use lgpl javascript in a commercial web. Lesser general public license is sometimes referred to as library gpl or gnu libraries, and some associate it with the idea of. Youve already got the answer that lgpl libraries can be used in commercial software. Most commonly gplv2 or any later version is stated by users of the license, to allow upgrading to gplv3. Qt documentation is available under commercial licenses from the qt company, and under the terms of the gnu free documentation license fdl version 1. However, because my software is not in the public domain, or under a bsdstyle free license, there are certain requirements. Originally lgpl was read out as library general public license. Can i use qt lgpl license and sell my application without any.
Support to any codecs using gpl licensed software was disabled, so it can be used. Lgpl is also called gnu libraries and formally called the library gpl. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a freesoftware license published by the. Gpl is basically the legal terminology that makes open source software what it is. The primary difference was that the licensed library could be linked to and distributed with any software, regardless of whether it is commercial proprietary software or free open source software. I worked for trolltech, and then later nokia who bought t. Applying lgpl to a library ensures that the library itself and any modified versions of it will remain open source. Qts lgpl license relates to qt and qt only, so you can package your code and license it however you like, but unless you plan on buying a qt commercial license, you have to dynamically link to qt. Modification of lgpld components suggests contribution back to the creatormaintainer.
The following licenses are sorted by the number of conditions, from most gnu agplv3 to none unlicense. See how to choose a license for your own work for general recommendations about choosing a license for your work. I assume they mean lesser as in less strong in forcing software to be open source. What is the difference between gpl, agpl and lgpl licenses. Sep 03, 2016 gpl, also known as copyleft, grants permission to reuse or modify the source code to make derivative works, but if you distribute your program to others, it requires you to license your derivative work under the gpl too. With the commercial license you also have access to the official qt support and close strategic relationship with the qt. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. Most software with licenses have restricted freedom when it comes to modifications and distribution, but gpl and lgpl take away those restrictions thus giving their users more leeway. Can i develop with commercial qt and install qt creator to more than one of my computers. So im remaking a product and was approaching qt about the commercial version. Epplus 5 uses a dual license model, with polyform noncommercial as the community license and a commercial license for commercial businesses.
Hi guys im working on a software that will require a lgpl library into a specific piece of code. In some cases, this type of software is originally sold and released without the source code, and the source code becomes available later. Dec 06, 2004 want to write a commercial shareware application. Qts commercial license is for when you wish to modify qts source code, and not release the changes you have made to the public.
Using the ordinary gpl for a library gives free software developers an advantage. Ffmpeg is licensed under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl version 2. Word processors android apps ios apps commercial trademarked formerly proprietary formerly opensource community free software. The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component released under the lgpl into their own even proprietary software without being required by the terms of a strong copyleft license to release the source code of their own components. However you must license qt under the lgpl and discharge your responsibilities under that license. List of proprietary sourceavailable software wikipedia. You may copy, distribute and modify the software provided that you state modifications and license them under lgpl 2. Apr 17, 2010 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. Its not permitted to mix qt commercial licenses with qt lgpl licenses in one project. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the gnu lesser general public license from time to time. Fluendo includes ffmpeg libraries licensed under lgpl.
In combination with the polyform noncommercial license we sell licenses for customers who use epplus in a commercial business. Even modules like the virtual keyboard, the software renderer for qml without opengl and the unittest integration into qtcreator will become available under gpl. Asf 3rd party license policy the apache software foundation. As for openness and freedom, they talk about softwares source code not what you can do with it. Our commercial products include support and services. Aug 28, 2014 to try to get more developers to adopt open source library usage, the gnu library general public license was created. If you intend to develop software using the qt framework, you will need a license commercial or open source. Revised versions of the gnu lesser general public license.
To make my software work, it must be linked to the foo library, which is available under the lesser gpl. Sony mobile offers to provide source code of software licensed under the gpl or lgpl or some other open source licenses allowing source code. The thing is, pyside2 is for using the qt framework with python programs. To understand the difference between gpl and lgpl you have to understand the basic idea of open source software. The lesser gpl lgpl is used primarily for software libraries. It is also possible to modify the code under the condition that the resulting modification is released as source code under the lgpl with any binary distribution of your software that uses these lgpl parts. Can i use an lgpllicenced library in my commercial app. Colti colti using jasperreports in a commercial software 20051204 08. Track in fossa gnu lesser general public license v2.
The lgpl requires modifications to the work to also be distributed under. Im working on a commercial software for restaurants and id like to use jasperreports for generating printable documents. Its a software license published by the free software foundation. Feb 25, 2006 if this is what you want to do, use the gnu lesser general public license instead of this license. In combination with the polyform noncommercial license we sell licenses for customers who. If you releasedistribute software using lgpld libraries, your software doesnt need to be covered by the gpl, but the libraries must retain the lgpl. Since you have access to the codes through open source software, you are permitted to make changes, improve it, and create your own twist to it. For commercial licensees, all modules are available under a single, commercial qt license. Mention of lgplmit source code in a commercial software. The version numbers diverged in 1999 when version 2.
With the commercial license you also have access to the official qt support and close strategic relationship with the qt company to make sure your development goals are met. So that makes qt pretty unattractive to me since i have to pony up cash and hope its good. As such, the lgpl is considered a more commercial friendly license than the gpl, since lgpl libraries can be freely utilized by commercial software. Other than the name change, the lesser gpl is substantially the same as the library gpl. Version 3 of the lgpl is the latest version, written in 2007. If this is what you want to do, use the gnu lesser general public license instead of this license. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license published by the free software foundation fsf. It has now been reinterpreted to be read out as the lesser general public license. They cant say software is halfopen for commercial developers because its not ture. You mention that it is licensed under the lgpl, with reference to the full license. The lgpl basically requires read the full license and faq for details. Im not clear on how that affects your products licensing.
Commercial software was once considered to be proprietary software, but now a number of free and opensource software applications are licensed or sold to end users. You may copy, distribute and modify the software provided that you state modifications and license them under lgpl2. Moving to the issue of source publication, that is specifically, deliberately removed under lgpl lesser gpl, providing certain conditions are met. Commercial software is any software or program that is designed and developed for licensing or sale to end users or that serves a commercial purpose. Ive red the license document but i couldnt clearly understand if i can feel free to use the library into my software will be a closed source software, because id like to sell the usage licenses or if i cant ive to give an amount to the library author. The gpl licenses gplv3, gplv2, lgpl, affero gpl all contain some kind of sharealike license.
Why the gpl is incompatible with commercial software. My software makes a system call with a command line that i built to run the bar program, which is licensed under the gpl, with a special exception allowing for linking with quux. Jun 08, 2016 so im remaking a product and was approaching qt about the commercial version. A lesser general public license lgpl is a license for opensource software that allows for provisions for including elements of free software in either free or proprietary software. Lgpl can i use a lgpl library in a commercial software. This is at least the stated goal of the qt company. The lgpl and gpl licenses differ with one major exception. Differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. Besides the lgpl license for pyside2, youll have to make sure that you comply with the qt licensing terms. See the wikipedia article on the lgpl for more information.
So a futre consumer product licensing opensource software under gplv3 could not be protected in this way against device vulnerability. It also contains a patent license and retaliation clause which is designed to prevent patents including patent trolls from encumbering the software project. Versions prior to version 5 are licensed under lgpl. The most common reason for releasing software under an open source license is that a commercial or nonprofit group is developing commercial software but. Top 10 gnu gpl license questions answered whitesource.
1116 446 863 1237 522 489 870 684 1438 890 825 1466 150 995 1133 1218 1397 1108 1497 355 315 252 706 415 480 43 537 1646 828 27 1140 789 1261 1294 1205 510 1010 1031 1444 1005 851 331