Questions tagged [copyleft]
For questions about the copyleft concept (also known as Share-Alike), a concept that promotes or enforces the use of the same or compatible license for derived works.
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Locking myself from ever changing license
Is there any way, that I can lock myself from ever changing the repository license to non open-source one?
These is this trend with open-source companies, that once they gain enough press, and enough ...
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Why it is not possible to create a proprietary fork of GPL?-or-later software?
Let's assume there is a project under GPL2-or-later license. My understanding
is that anyone can take the project and make a fork with GPL2-only additions.
They could also take the project and make a ...
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CC BY-NC copyleft?
I did some research and could not answer the question:
Does CC BY-NC ensure that the NC restriction is passed forward?
I would think it should. Otherwise, someone could make a tiny change to the work ...
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Can I use MPL 2.0 and BSL licensed software for a proprietary repo?
I am building a web application in which I intend to keep the source code private and proprietary. The web application would be used by end users for personal profit. I plan on using Turborepo (https:/...
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does reformatting JSON count as 'transformation' for CC-SA?
I am working with a very large JSON dataset licensed CC-BY-SA. I only need parts of this dataset, and some of the JSON field names are not especially descriptive, so I am re-naming them.
The text of ...
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Copyleft licenses for a (new) LaTeX document class
I am about to release a new document class I developed myself. I am currently in disarray about what license can/should be used for such a project.
The "default" license used for LaTeX code ...
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"Pure Copyleft" Software Licenses? (with no additional restrictions)
TL;DR How can we replace the GPLv3 requirements of source disclosure + explicit license copy with something more subtle like "This work allows the users [...], and any derived work (recursively) ...
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When I use CC BY-SA media in a website, do I "remix, transform, or build upon the material"?
I'm using some images that have a CC BY-SA 4.0 license in my website. Of course I apply the correct attribution as is required by the license.
I am, however, confused by the "ShareAlike" ...
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AGPLv3 - Does indirect use over intermediary servers constitute "distribution"?
Let's say I'm building an app consisting of a frontend, backend and database.
The database software is AGPLv3.0 licensed and running on the database server.
The backend is proprietary, running on the ...
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GPL and Linking Exceptions
I'm trying to decide on a license for some code I'm going to be open-sourcing shortly, and having a hard time choosing among the major licenses (as less common licenses are things people are not as ...
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Do physical assets created directly from GPLed, copyleft digital designs (not programs or libraries) acquire the same license?
Situation: I use LGPL licensed software to create some digital assets that contain original designs. I don't modify the original LGPL software in the process; I just use it. The primary use of the ...
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Dynamically Linking a Proprietary Module to a GPL-Covered Library (C/C++)
Context
Suppose I have two projects called:
Foo
Bar
Goal: The Foo compiles to some sort of dynamic linking library such as a windows .dll and links to project Bar dynamically. And some of the ...
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Does AGPLv3 cover a company running an application via email correspondence?
I am in a situation where a company is interested in running an application of mine licensed under the AGPLv3. The company will repeatedly take inputs from multiple customers, and then return the ...
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Can CC-BY-SA code be removed from a larger code base and not have the remaining code bear the CC-BY-SA license?
My understanding of the CC-BY-SA is that if you use a snippet of CC-BY-SA code in a larger project, not only must you reveal the source code of your entire project, but you must also brand the entire ...
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GNU license for "Open Metronome" - what license applies to beats generated with it?
If i am using the GNU-licensed software "Open Metronome" (https://sourceforge.net/projects/openmetronome/) to create the basic rhythm of my own music, I am wondering if I can freely ...
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Can I change the content license on my Stackoverflow/Stackexchange posts to something more permissive like MIT?
I was experimenting with Stackoverflow's API requests and I noticed this on my posts:
I've mentioned in previous posts that while I respect CC BY-SA 4.0's intentions, I don't like the copyleft ...
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Can I sever proprietary code from a codebase that was published containing CC BY-SA 4.0 code?
If I copied some code from Stackoverflow early on in the development process, forgot to take it out, and published the finished website containing the code from Stackoverflow, is my website no longer ...
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I need clarifications on what rights I'm granting by the CC BY-SA 4.0
It was recently brought to my attention that by posting anything to Stackoverflow, you irrevocably grant Stackoverflow a CC BY-SA 4.0 license to your posted content. I thought CC BY-SA 4.0 was ...
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How does GPL differ from CC BY-NC-SA?
Am I right that:
Copyleft is not equal to Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA "This license lets others remix, adapt, and build upon your work non-commercially, as long as they credit you and license ...
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What's the difference between GPL licence and CECILL-2.1?
These two licenses are for open-source code. Does the CECILL-2.1 give rights to sell the open source code without author notification, as it says in Article 5?
5.3 RIGHT OF DISTRIBUTION
In particular,...
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If I use a CC-BY-SA artwork as part of my book cover art, do I need to share my entire book cover art under a similar license?
I'm confused about the share alike part of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license which states:
share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must ...
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Importing GPLv3'd code: Which copyright notice to add to my own code?
Let's say I import some header files (or Python modules) which are under GPLv3 into a source file that I would like to publish as Open Source (OS), and also signify that I have copyright on that ...
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Choosing appropriate license for my project [duplicate]
I’m planning to write an open-source OS. So these are the thing I want to include with my license:
For non-commercial use, I give users unlimited rights to copy, distribute, edit my OS, but they must ...
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Does CC BY-SA affect recordings of performances of songs?
If I write, and publish sheet music for, a hymn under CC BY-SA, and it is sung in a church, and the church records their services, does the recording have to be CC BY-SA? If so, can I avoid this while ...
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How do copyleft redistribution clauses fit in with purely hardware products?
How could redistribution clauses common to copyleft licenses (paraphrased below) be applied to purely hardware products? i.e. products that contain no software or firmware but where all design ...
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Is it a GPL violation to provide source code in a format that can only be opened or "compiled" with non-free software?
Looking through the GPL FAQ, there is the question of if you can use the GPL license for non-software products, as long as it is clear what constitutes the source code. Of course, that does not mean ...
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Is there a license similar to the CC BY-SA license that is copyleft but allows source-unreadable derivatives to be released?
I'm looking for a license that's similar to the CC BY-SA license that allows people to use my code for whatever purpose as long as they license derivative works under the same license. The distinction ...
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Is EPL compatible with Apple App Store?
I heard that there are some known issues with publishing GPL software on App Store and GPL may be incompatible with restrictions placed by App Store.
EPL (Eclipse Public License) is another copyleft-...
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Is the Open Gaming License a type of open source license?
Wizards of the Coast (publishers of the Dungeons and Dragons desktop role playing game) have for years operated under the Open Gaming License.
The License: This License applies to any Open Game ...
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Blender addon interface with non-GPL compatible renderer through OpenGL driver using system library exception?
Why
I'm making a 3D rendering addon for Blender which is GPL 2/3 code that needs to communicate with non-GPL compatible library that does the rendering. I need some of this communication to be as fast ...
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Can I license certain components of my software as MIT, but have the overall software be Copyleft?
I'm considering releasing the source code of an App as Copyleft, but would like some individual components (just not the core project) to be used under a more permissive MIT license.
How would this ...
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Is AGPLv3 or MPLv2 better for an open-source API meant to be integrated into closed-source customer APIs?
Description:
This open-source code is an API (let's call it X-API), which is meant to be used by businesses running their own closed-source APIs
The goal:
Let other companies/individuals interact ...
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Copyleft licensed part inside permissive software
Assume somebody writes software and distributes it to customers. Since any dependency under a copyleft license (such as the GPL) would require putting the whole software under a copyleft license, ...
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Software licence description doesn't match AGPL licence limitations
In my research of AGPL I have found that creating REST API around AGPL licensed library is enough to make it communication at arms length and as such it bypasses the need to publish all of your ...
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Licensing in a scripting language - Copyleft
I am trying to understand when and where the copyleft of GPL v2|v3 applies, similar to this OS question.
The way I understand it, is that if a derivative work is created AND distributed, copyleft ...
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How can Apple distribute Bash (and other GPL v2 software) with macOS? Is it not a derivative work?
And how could they license Darwin as APSL if based on GPL v2 software?
See
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Does the Common Public License (CPL-1.0) require dynamic linking to keep source code undisclosed?
I'm looking into the rules of the Common Public License and am wondering how far it's copyleft-ness extends.
AFAIK: With LGPL you can keep the library you wish to use in a separate .dll or .so, ...
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Using Mongo DB in my embedded device as a backend service
I am writing a software for commercial purposes that reads and parses text files for further retrieval and analysis. To store the imported text files I would prefer to use Mongo DB. This DB had been ...
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Does the Reciprocal Public Licence require notifications only to be given to the first original licensor?
If person A creates a work under RPL-1.5 and person B creates a work based on person A's work, person B has to notify person A with the changes. If person A then uses these changes and continues to ...
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Copyleft/share-alike non-attribution licenses?
Is there any existing license can a person can use to distribute a document that allows reuse, derivative works, and free distribution, under the condition of it being licensed under the same or a ...
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Need samples of copyleft notices
I would like to make my lecture notes free, and available to all, but would like to be given credit if others use part of it.
Should it be copyleft, GPL, CC, or others?
What would be a proper notice ...
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Can I copy some AGPL code to my AGPL project?
Let's say Alice has Project A, which is licenced under the AGPL, and Bob has Project B, which is also licenced under AGPL.
Bob sees a function in Project A that looks very useful, and wants to copy it ...
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Which open-source license allows everything except warranty?
The most permissive liscense known to me, Creative Commons Zero disallows patenting of the source but I would like to grant all permissions except warranty.
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Using copyleft software (GPL v2) and distribute it with proprietary software
My case:
My app is proprietary full-stack server app that will be distributed as closed source. I want to package my app into an VM. The VM have Ubuntu installed which contains Linux (GPL v2 licensed)...
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Which license to use for a template that you cannot modify (structure) and must attribute, but which can be used freely : fill with data, images...?
What license to use for a template ?
As an example, let's say an MS Access template.
I want people to use/share it but only to store data, commercially or not, but isn't it a 'modification' of the ...
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Are there any real punishments for intentional malicious behavior in GPL or any other "no-warranties" licensed software?
There haven't been any significant incidents on FOSS software developers turning evil and pumping their software with malicious code. But each person is different, with different intentions. While I ...
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Best way to include GPL-licensed code in an MIT-licensed library
I am currently developing a Python library under an MIT license (let's call it mylib). I have, however, come across what may be a minor hurdle. I want to include an optional GPL-licensed dependency.
I ...
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Using an unmodified GPL library in non-copyleft code
I am writing a piece of software that I plan to distribute. In my code, I use a GPL licensed library.
Do I have to apply the GPL to my software even if I did not do any changes to the above mentioned ...
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Can I dual license my software that is on Github with a GPLv3 license?
To my understanding, as the maker of the software, I have the right to dual licensing the software as I wish, be it both an open source license and a proprietary closed license at the same time.
...
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Is there a copyleft license that applies specifically to assets created using my software?
I'm developing a new kind of graphical library for the web. It's roughly analogous to an animation library such as Spine in that it will ship with an editor for creating graphical assets and a runtime ...
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