Questions tagged [gpl-2]
Questions about GNU General Public License Version 2.
34
questions
20
votes
4
answers
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Threatening with non-renewal of contract when users distribute the GPLv2-licensed software
Scenario:
Bob develops patches for Linux. Because Linux is licensed under the GPLv2, these patches are also licensed under GPLv2.
Bob distributes these patches only to people who have a contract ...
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11
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can I distribute unmodified GPLv2 binaries without the source code?
If I distribute someone else's unmodified GPLv2 software as a part of my product, what obligations do I have regarding source code distribution?
Do I have to host the source independently and ...
- 1,340
3
votes
3
answers
458
views
Must a plugin for a GPLv2 work also be GPLv2?
I would like to develop an addon/extension plugin for an existing WordPress plugin, to add some premium features, but the base plugin's source-code is under GPLv2, which makes me doubtful...
Is any ...
- 268
33
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Is illegally obtained GPLv2 software still subject to the terms and conditions of the GPL?
Let's say some company is developing a software component licensed under GPLv2. The company never intends to release the software to the public because they are only installing it on their internal ...
- 1,894
24
votes
3
answers
9k
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Can I link a Apache 2.0 library into software under GPLv2?
The Apache 2.0 License has a built-in linking exception:
For the purposes of this License, Derivative Works shall not include works that remain separable from, or merely link (or bind by name) to ...
- 9,035
13
votes
2
answers
4k
views
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....
- 131
12
votes
2
answers
483
views
If I use artwork from a GPLv2 application, does my application have to be GPL as well?
Some time ago I started on a mobile version of a desktop game released under GPLv2. At first, the desktop version was just inspiration, but I've reached the point where I suck as an artist and would ...
- 221
10
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is it legal to Bundle OpenJDK + HotSpot with a closed source application?
As per my understanding, OpenJDK itself is licensed under GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception which should be no issue for bundling with closed source application. ...
- 203
9
votes
1
answer
672
views
Is it legal to charge for distributing the source of a software which uses GPLv2 components?
A device I own uses BusyBox. BusyBox is licensed under GPLv2, hence, the software in my device must have a GPLv2 license.
Now, the company says they make the source code available, but for a charge, ...
- 193
8
votes
1
answer
538
views
Is an 'un-modifiable' linux a violation of GPLv2?
I have a D-Link DIR-816 router that runs a 'trimmed-down' version of BusyBox v1.12.1 running a linux kernel version 2.6.36 ([email protected]) (gcc version 3.4.2) #35 Wed Sep 23 17:23:58 CST ...
- 83
6
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Could a license that allows later versions impose obligations or remove protections for licensors in the future?
If a project is licensed under GPL-2.0-or-later/MPL1.*, to what extent could the FSF/Mozilla releases a new version that imposes obligations or removes protections for licensors?
Some examples:
Could ...
- 89
6
votes
1
answer
521
views
How should I mark a source file with GPLv2 as a derivative work?
I want to include a file with GPLv2 license in my project (which is also GPL, so there are no worries there). The file starts with a copyright line, and the license information.
I'll be making ...
- 163
18
votes
3
answers
16k
views
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 ...
- 341
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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 ...
- 223
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Does using a GPLv2 code generator force my project to be similarly licensed?
I use gSOAP to generate c++ code from wsdl in some project hosted on github and I am a little lost in the license compatibilities.
Shortly I prefer to share my work without any license constraint, ...
- 261
7
votes
2
answers
208
views
What is the status of in-app-purchasing code in a GPLv2 app? [generic app store]
I wish to develop a computer game and the engine I have chosen is ioquake3. This engine is licensed under GPLv2. Needless to say the game's source code will itself will, in turn, be licensed under ...
- 171
7
votes
1
answer
478
views
GPL v2 and proprietary extensions
I am trying to understand when do the GPLv2 spreads from a program to its extensions and vice versa.
Everything I've read seems to say that if you use a module (shared library or any other "tightly ...
- 73
6
votes
1
answer
455
views
Effect of 'download separately' on GPL linking
Suppose I have Java jar-files which I provide to my customers under a commercial closed-source license. But my jar-files depend on a few jar-files released under the GPLv2 (without any special GNU ...
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Bundling JetBrains OpenJDK in closed source software
I am developing a software that comes bundled with JDK. I am planning to use JetBrains OpenJDK for this purpose as it comes with swing support for HighDPI monitors.
JetBrains OpenJDK can be found in ...
- 171
4
votes
2
answers
883
views
Can license-incompatible program communicate with GPLv2 program via websocket?
I'm writing a program for automation under a license that is incompatible with GPLv2 (it's dual-licensed: GPLv3/Proprietary). Let's call it my automation program.
And there is third party GPLv2 ...
- 41
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Using a tool under GPL v2 in a commercial application
I have read many articles on GPL v2 licensing and I understand the main idea - when one uses a library or piece of software that is GPL-based, then the software, generally speaking, must become GPL as ...
- 43
4
votes
2
answers
392
views
Can library that took parts of library licensed under GPL with Classpath Exception be licensed under MIT?
I've spotted the library (library M) where developers took some source files from GPL with Classpath Exception licensed library (library G), included them in their project and changed namespaces and ...
- 141
4
votes
2
answers
6k
views
GPLv2 - licensing for commercial use
I have a few questions regarding the GPLv2 license:
For it to be GPLv2, I need provide access to my source files?
If I use the v2 license, but charge for use, do users HAVE to purchase my license in ...
- 49
3
votes
1
answer
167
views
A small Go library under GPLv2, rewrite it under modified BSD
Go is using a modified BSD license. I would like to use the same license for some projects, most parts / libraries will be published under an open source license, but clients do demand some of the ...
- 163
3
votes
1
answer
147
views
Bundling GCC along with my GPLv2 project
Is it legal to bundle the GCC cross-compiler (tar.bz2 file) along with a GPL v2 licensed ARMv4T processor core on Github? The compiler will extracted during simulations to compile C code for the core ...
- 133
2
votes
1
answer
875
views
How did memtest86 transition from GPL to closed-source?
Memtest86, a popular software for RAM diagnostics, was initially developed as open source (GPLv2). Version 3 was forked into a separate project, Memtest86+, also distributed under GPL terms. Source ...
- 1,340
2
votes
1
answer
416
views
Bundling GPL script with closed source script
So what I'm planning to do is to create a script which one part calls (via Python's subprocess) external open source script licensed under GPL-2. To make it easier for users I'd like to distribute ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
73
views
Proprietary app injecting CSS into a remote self-hosted GPL web-app in WebView
I'm building a proprietary application that loads into its WebView a remote, self-hosted GPLv2 licensed web application.
I'm sure that loading a resource via WebView will not violate GPL (the web ...
- 51
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
MySQL for Commercial Web Application
We have created a web application hosted on virtual machine for client access through web only, no distribution . The database we have used is MySQL Community Edition under GPL 2. The application is ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
853
views
If there is no copyright notice, is the license applied?
On a project I noticed that it has a LICENSE file, apparently put in place as template when the project was initialized by Github. The file contains the standard GPLv2 template but no copyright notice....
- 163
2
votes
1
answer
165
views
WordPress: is extending plugin allowed by GPLv2?
I would like to extend an existing plugin (for example FileBird), to add some features, and later publish and sell it off...
But although the plugin's source-code can be simply downloaded from ...
- 268
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
GPL-2 Derivative works
Suppose we have this scenario:
there are 4 Free softwares (under GPL version 2);
a man puts them in a Stack and codes some glue-tools and a GUI to wrap them all together;
now the stack is a Platform,...
- 23
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
how did Elastix move from GPL to proprietary?
I'm just scratching the surface for VoIP with Elastix. I notice that Elastix 2.x is "open source" but 5.x is proprietary?
Looking into licensing from the manual on Elastix brings:
http://www.3cx....
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1
vote
0
answers
93
views
Can I distribute a LGPLv2.1 derivative work whose source code doesn't compile?
Section 4 of the LGPLv2.1 gives me permission to distribute a "work based on the Library" in object code form, provided that I also distribute "complete corresponding machine-readable ...
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