Questions tagged [derivative-works]
For questions about works that derive their core from another open work.
223 questions
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Is requiring a license a violation of the GPL? Can I get around it?
At work, we use a version of GCC provided by a vendor of a proprietary OS. The vendor has modified gcc so that it will only run if it successfully acquires one of a limited number of licenses we've ...
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52
votes
4
answers
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Someone open-sourced an un-open-source project
Someone (Person_A) is sharing an open source project (Project_A) on GitHub. The Project_A is a decompiled version of another project (Project_B). But the original Project_B is not open source, and ...
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32
votes
5
answers
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What are the arguments for considering dynamic links not to constitute derivative works?
The status of programs which are dynamically linked with Copyleft licensed binaries (such as a .dll) is contentious. I have created two questions for each side of the debate. The other can be found ...
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27
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1
answer
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Ramifications of the proposed new SE licensing model
Like many other people I read this meta post. Since I don't really understand what is at stake I became confused and worried.
Does this mean that I can legally force any organization to let me see ...
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25
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2
answers
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Theseus' Paradox applied to code copyright
Assuming a copyright license (I'll reference Apache 2.0, but that's an example only) that allows derivations, at what point are those derivations so extensive that the Apache license no longer applies?...
- 353
24
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2
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Can I sell my MIT-licensed software if it is modified by others?
Suppose I create some software from scratch. I sell the software, but I also keep it open source under the MIT License. Someone forks my repository and makes some great improvements to my software. ...
- 469
24
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1
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How to use MIT license in a project?
Let's say i used a MIT program as a base for a new project, and modified about 50% of the program files.
How should i specify that the program is a derivative work?
Do i need to keep track of every ...
- 253
22
votes
2
answers
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Borrowing ideas rather than code from open source projects
I work in a field where people (competitors?) reverse engineer things, and for this reason, there are many implementations around, all of which are open source. Sometimes in order to save time, I look ...
- 331
22
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4
answers
3k
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What are the arguments for considering dynamic links to constitute derivative works?
The status of programs which are dynamically linked with Copyleft licensed binaries (such as a .dll) is contentious. I have created two questions for each side of the debate. The other can be found ...
- 7,972
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is re-encoding an audio or video file permitted under CC-BY-ND?
I have a .mp3 file licensed under CC-BY-ND 4.0 and I want to reencode it (without changing the content within) in the Ogg Vorbis format for sharing, but I do not want to violate the CC license.
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20
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3
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951
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Is the code generated from a GPLv3 EBNF grammar a derivative work?
So, I'm really unclear on this situation and what it means.
I have an EBNF-based grammar file that we use for our project.
This EBNF grammar describes rules for parsing/lexing a document (e.g. some ...
- 5,546
20
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3
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Is it allowed to dynamically link a GPL licensed library for commercial use?
I would like to use a dynamically linked library with GPL V2 license for adding remote support to my existing C++ application. I use the library without modifications of the library code.
Do I need ...
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19
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2
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5k
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Can I license Python project under 3-clause BSD while it has GPL-based dependencies
I'm working on an open source Python project and we have plans to use GPLv2-licensed library python3-xlib, but we will not distribute it with our library. So user can install it by pip install our-lib ...
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18
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7
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GPL-Licensed LaTeX template - implications for resulting work?
I'm currently writing my master thesis, and the classicthesis template we're supposed to use is licensed GPLv2+.
As I understand the GPL, this makes my written thesis a derivative work, and would ...
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17
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3
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4k
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Is the output of an open source program licensed the same?
According to my knowledge, open source software is free to use and distribute, and if the program is modified it should be distributed under the same license - but what if someone is using only the ...
- 273
17
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5
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Why would the GPL be "viral", while EUPL isn't, according to the EUPL authors?
So, according to the FSF, any work that links to a GPL licensed work is considered a derivative work, and thus also needs to be covered by the GPL.
The EUPL also demands derivative works to become ...
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17
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2
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Do I have to release my code as GPL when a Java Library is GPL
I have found a Java library that can be used under the GPL licence (not the LGPL licence).
Can I embed the library in my program without the requirement of using the GPL licence?
I have no ...
- 576
16
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3
answers
2k
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Derivatives and Forks... Is there a difference?
The terms fork and derivative have really been bugging me as I always seem to imply that they're different, but then in many ways the same. You hear the term fork many times on platforms such as Git ...
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16
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3
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When is my project a derivative work in an interpreted language?
With compiled languages, I understand when a work is considered derivative of another and thus, a license such as the GNU GPL covers the whole work.
However, with interpreted languages such as PHP or ...
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15
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4
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Does using GNU Unifont in a game make the game GPL?
GNU Unifont is a fontface licensed under the GNU GPLv2 or later with this exception:
The license for the compiled fonts is covered by the above GPL terms
with the GNU font embedding exception, as ...
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15
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3
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866
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Does using Eclipse wizards to generate code make my software a derivative?
I am using Eclipse to code my program. After doing research on the Eclipse website I found that there was no clear answer to my question.
My issue is that I need to be able to license my software ...
- 5,920
14
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3
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4k
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Since some software is open source, can you add a feature you created and use it for your own personal use?
For example, if I want to add a bunch of lines in VS code using a single command and say I'm able to build this feature, can I use this on my version of VS code without the community acceptance?
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Does the CC-BY-SA License require that source code of derivative works be shared?
For example, if I create a LaTeX file and license it with CC BY SA, can someone create a derivative work, but only publish the PDF, without giving out the derived LaTeX source code?
Does this fall ...
14
votes
1
answer
692
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GPL - Does "internal use" apply for a public gameserver?
While reading through the GPL FAQ I found some relevant points to the question, however it is still unclear to me if this fully applies to a public gameserver.
I'll try to keep it short:
There is a ...
norad
14
votes
4
answers
9k
views
What is derivative work? What is "build upon"?
I have been reading up on Open Source licensing, but there is this one term that I think needs clarification: when is work derivative?
If I have an image viewer that accepts a ZIP file and I ...
- 243
13
votes
5
answers
787
views
Appropriate licence for later merging back
I am a library developer. I want to open source it soon, but I'm not sure what license will work best for me.
My main concerns are:
I want to provide a commercial license for somebody who is willing ...
- 247
13
votes
4
answers
8k
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Linking from LGPL 2.1 software to Apache 2.0 library
The FSF claims that GPL v2 is incompatible with Apache 2.0 and that linking to a library generally creates a derivative work of this library.
However, the linking exception of the LGPL allows ...
- 5,727
13
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1
answer
3k
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Derived work of BSD licensed software, how do I indicate this?
I found a javascript module (file), which contains two functions, and I would like to modify it under the terms of its BSD license. I'm happy for the resulting source file to be declared derived work ...
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13
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2
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If my R package uses GPL packages, does mine automatically inherit GPL?
I've built an R package that uses a mix of libraries licensed under GPL-2 and GPL-3. From what I've read, because of this dependency, my package will also have to be GPL.
See here: https://www.gnu....
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Are derivative works a subset of combined works?
This question stems from discussion of a question on programmers.stackexchange.com.
In the LGPL 3.0 section 4 "Combined Works" it states:
You may convey a Combined Work under terms of your choice ...
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12
votes
1
answer
2k
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Quoting GPL licensed text in presentation slides
There is an open source project licensed under the GPL v2. It does also contain textual files (JSON configuration examples). I would like to put those texts on slides in a presentation of mine.
Does ...
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1
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What license options do I have for licensing ported source code?
If, I port Ruby on Rails (licensed under MIT) from Ruby to Java what license options do I have? Would I have to use MIT or a compatible license?
user2594
11
votes
2
answers
814
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Recourse for forks ignoring open source license on original code in App Store?
I used to contribute to a free iOS app on GitHub that was released under the Mozilla Public License Version 2.0.
Multiple people have since taken the code from that GitHub repository and released ...
11
votes
1
answer
805
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What counts as a modification when using a CMS licensed under AGPL 3.0?
On my Web server, I’m using a CMS licensed under AGPL 3.0. I’m required to provide the source code of this CMS only if I have modified it.
But what exactly counts as a modification?
It certainly is ...
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11
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2
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881
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What counts as adaptation for using code licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 in software licensed under GPLv3?
Since 2015-10-08, GPLv3 is listed as one-way compatible license for CC BY-SA 4.0:
[…] you may license your contributions to adaptations of BY-SA 4.0 materials under GPLv3, but you may not license ...
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9
votes
2
answers
6k
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If I use a public API endpoint that has its source code licensed under AGPL in my app, do I need to disclose my source?
If there's a public API server that has it's source code licensed with AGPL, and if I make an app that uses these public endpoints in some part of it, (entire application doesn't necessarily depend on ...
9
votes
2
answers
757
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Are there examples of proprietary software that functionally depends on free software?
This question is a follow-up on a number of questions that all mention some sort of software architecture X for creating software composites, and then goes on to ask: "Will using X to create a ...
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9
votes
1
answer
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Attribution for a "2nd generation" derivative work
How do you deal with attribution of a work that is derived from a work that is itself derived from an original work protected under CC BY-SA?
And while we're at it, let's push it further: Let's call ...
- 193
8
votes
2
answers
1k
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Is ripping off an open source library okay?
I don't know if I'm over-reacting but a while ago, I'm using a library https://github.com/sudeepag/SAConfettiView and I saw an open ticket https://github.com/sudeepag/SAConfettiView/issues/57 and it ...
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8
votes
1
answer
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Why don't open source licenses give a more specific definition of "derivative works" to reduce ambiguity?
The Free Software Foundation is of the opinion that a program that links a library is a derivative work of that library, so a program that links to a GPL-licensed library would need to be distributed ...
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How do you use GPLv3 icons in non-software artwork?
Icon sets are often released under software licenses. For example, I use the Numix icon set, which is GPLv3, on my laptop.
Suppose I wanted to use these icons to create a derivative non-software ...
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1
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Can I Commit LGPL3 Derivative Work To An Apache 2 Licensed Project?
I am using a helpful project that is licensed under the LGPL3.
I have taken some of the useful code out of it and refactored it into a wrapper class and would like to add it to an upstream project.
...
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8
votes
2
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720
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Using GPL-ed library from code with more permissive license (MPL-2)
I'm writing a library and a tool on top of it, and I would like to release both under MPL-2. However, the library has an optional dependency, another library which is released under GPL (not LGPL).
I ...
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8
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3
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779
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Source-only distribution of MIT-licensed project which depends on GPL library
I'm trying to understand exactly when a work becomes a "derivative work," and how it affects licensing of my project. In my situation, we have a scientific code that we have written which is ...
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1
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How do I license code when rewriting code in another language? [duplicate]
I took the C code from the png2theora example tool of Xiph.Org Theora which has a copyright header:
/********************************************************************
* ...
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1
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Is a derivative work necessarily written in same language as the one it derives from?
For example, a C repository built upon the ideas from a (say) JavaScript project - is it a derivative work based on the latter?
To clear things up little bit, i'd give a more detailed example;
...
anon
8
votes
1
answer
293
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Can I apply an open source license if I referenced copyright documentation during development?
I am working on python library that wraps a non-free C library. In order to develop this, I referenced the C library's copyrighted documentation. Because of that my function and variable names are the ...
- 91
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4
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4k
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Allow commercial use, but require removal of company name
I'm planning to draft policies for my company. I'd like to release these policies as open source so that others may use them for their own purposes. I don't mind how they use or modify them, but I do ...
- 285
7
votes
5
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874
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Preventing people from forking and profiting over minor changes
Twinone App Locker is an Android app. It used to be open-source, released under an Apache 2 License. It was ad-supported.
People forked it. If I understand correctly, they tended not to make any ...
7
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2
answers
2k
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Can I fork and modify gpl3 licensed code and release it with Apache v2 license?
If I fork a library that uses the GPL3 license and heavily modify it, can I then release the new library with an ApacheV2 license?
I actually already did this 2 years ago without putting much thought ...
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