Questions tagged [gpl-3]
The General Public License, offered by GNU. Use this tag if the question involves version 3 of the license.
301
questions
3
votes
1answer
18 views
Does the use of GCC small macros and linker variables make my work GPL?
when using AVR or ARM toolchains for Atmel microcontrollers, is using GCC macros such as __AVR_...__ or linker variables making my code GPL?
I know GCC is covered by "GPL 3.0" + "GCC ...
3
votes
1answer
41 views
Why is the GNU GPL v3 compatible with the Apache License v2.0?
I understand that the GNU GPL v2 and Apache License v2.0 are considered incompatible. The FSF's License List explains that this is "because [Apache] has some requirements that are not in that GPL ...
4
votes
1answer
64 views
Understanding GPL & LGPL: Free Software with zero-cost, proprietary libraries
Background:
This question is derived from a previous question.
I am writing a Blender add-on which enables the use of Blender with a piece of hardware (i.e., a lightfield display). Blender and the ...
2
votes
3answers
66 views
Understanding GPL: Blender Add-on + System Library
Basic Information
I am writing a Blender add-on which enables the use of Blender with a piece of hardware (i.e., a lightfield display). Blender and the use of the specific Python API, which is ...
1
vote
1answer
18 views
Can i add copyright and license to a web template with a license?
I downloaded this template for my website & built my website over it.
The template license says:
This Bootstrap template is 100% FREE as long as you keep the footer attribution link. You do not ...
2
votes
1answer
25 views
Call GPL functionality from non-GPL interpreted code
I have code written in R, an interpreted language. The R interpreter and most R libraries are under the GPL. What are the limits upon my code, if I want to distribute it while keeping it proprietary ...
2
votes
1answer
137 views
Software under LGPL and API under GPL, which license do addons follow?
In a specific case where the software is licensed under LGPL but its API is licensed under GPL, which of these should addons (that use the API) follow?
Additionally, if it's LGPL are addons required ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Is there any reason not to always use the AGPL over the GPL?
The AGPL is mostly intended to address "software that runs over a network". However, that is pretty much most software today. And even if not, it seems to me that in light of a piece of ...
2
votes
1answer
27 views
Study existing GPLv3 licensed code while working on my own project
I plan to write a toy interpreter for a programming language as a hobby project hosted on GitHub. The official implementation of the language is licensed under GPLv3. I have read some of its code to ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
GPL code behind a registration form
My employer wants to publish a paper about software and make it open-source under the GPL, but they want to know who is interested and downloads it.
Is it legal to ask people to fill in a regular ...
8
votes
1answer
128 views
Who is legally eligible to define a new version of the GPL?
Since GPL licenses may contain the notice that derivative software can be released either under the same or under a future GPL version, does the GPL also define who is eligible to define a new version ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Adding GPL classpath exception to program
GCC has a special exception that doesn't force you to use GPL for programs compiled with GCC. If I for example had program foo, how can I apply the classpath/GCC/linking exception to it as well? Do I ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Linking GPL software with “indirection library” with both GPL-compatible and proprietary backends, in constrast with wrapper library
I'm about to publish a GPL3 piece of software I wrote. That software uses OpenCL, and in its normal use one typically links the software against the Khronos OpenCL ICD. The ICD lets the user then ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a company circumvent the freedom of distribution on GPL software for its employees or service providers?
This post contains various related questions, but I think it's needed to solve my doubts properly.
As far as I know if I can access a free software I have the freedom to run, study, modify and ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Can my proprietary program use a GPLv3 binary?
I want to use in my program (closed source code) binary (GPL v3) which is used by execute it with parameters and read output/log of this execution. Can I do it? If yes, what information should I ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I fork libstdc++ without disclaiming copyright for the modifications I make?
NOTICE: Not A duplicate of Am I allowed to add additional copyright on modified code that originally the FSF released under GPLv3:
The previous question answered if I'm allowed to copyright ...
6
votes
1answer
68 views
Accessing a non-commercial API with Software under strong copyleft (e.g. GPLv3) possible?
My intention
I’d like to write a desktop GUI program using Qt (which is itself is licensed under GPL) that interfaces a REST API and I want to use a strong copyleft license, preferably GPLv3. (I use ...
Bart van Ingen Schenau
18k2 gold badges28 silver badges50 bronze badges
2
votes
1answer
90 views
Am I allowed to add additional copyright on modified code that originally the FSF released under GPLv3
I've ported type_traits from GCC to AVR-GCC with some major modifications to the code structure, style, and used some boost implementations along with some of my own implementations and would like to ...
3
votes
2answers
521 views
GPL and Python import statement
If a Python module X is licensed under GPL and a Python script or module Y imports X, does it make Y necessarily GPL also?
3
votes
0answers
41 views
Can PyQt5 projects use the MIT license?
I maintain a PyQt5 project on GitHub under the MIT license but now I am wondering if I am risking getting in trouble by not making it GPL... This answer makes me think that releasing my own code under ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Can a copy-left licensed software mutate to a permissive one? Can a permissive licence mutate to a copy-left one?
I am a bit lost with license compatibility and re-licensing.
See this example:
Author Alice is author and holds copyright of software under GPL3. This software supports plugins.
Author Bob authors a ...
16
votes
4answers
1k views
Using GPL code in an application that is offered to a single client as source code
My situation:
I have a continuous contract with a single client for "IT services".
I am developing a web application that is completely custom to their needs.
As part of the agreement the application ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Can I use GPL v3 licensed software to create my commercial product? [duplicate]
Note that I am not modifying or redistributing the GPL3 licensed software, nor am I selling it. I am merely using it to create a different product, which contains the output of the software for ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Is it possible to restrict GPL3 licensed software to non-commercial projects?
I am searching for a suitable license for my project (A Grav CMS PHP Website Rating Plugin). I want to ensure that:
The code is published open source
The code will be kept open source by other users (...
18
votes
3answers
4k views
Can I publish a GPL source I'm being paid for to develop?
For a popular program licensed under GPL3, a system of plugins exists. The program and the plugins are closely interoperable and exchange large structures of data, so the plugins will necessarily be ...
11
votes
2answers
499 views
Is Geogebra's “non-commercial only GPL3” license valid?
The license for Geogebra says:
You are free to copy, distribute and transmit GeoGebra for non-commercial purposes. Non-commercial use is subject to the terms of our GeoGebra Non-Commercial ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
GPL v3 library used in custom built Kafka Connector wrapper
Imagine, there is communication library to specialized communication protocol to end devices licensed by GPL v3 and implemented for JVM. Then I implement specialized Kafka Connector on top of this ...
6
votes
1answer
57 views
PDFs with proprietary fonts in test suite of (A)GPL software
I develop a piece of software that uses AGPL licensed iText7. The licensing options are therefore GPL and AGPL. The software is to be installed locally and acts as a plugin to a proprietary desktop ...
2
votes
1answer
31 views
Granting exceptions to the GPL so that binary is compatible with 3rd party license
Suppose there exists a software library libfoo distributed under the terms of a hypothetical license we will here call The Foo License (TFL). The terms of TFL are identical to those of the 3-clause ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Can I add a proprietary library to GPL software?
I'm considering developing a project based on a modified version of some GPLv3 code. But, I need to use some proprietary library. This is a for-profit endeavour, in which I plan to sell the modified ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
How does GPL define the term “release” or “distribute” officially?
Since GPL Require Source Posted Public states about
But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's ...
Bart van Ingen Schenau
18k2 gold badges28 silver badges50 bronze badges
6
votes
1answer
54 views
Acceptable techniques to verify rootfs without circumventing gplv3 terms
GPLv3 has clause to ensure that device manufacturers are not circumventing "freedom to run modified software by users".
3. Protecting Users' Legal Rights From Anti-Circumvention Law states:
...
3
votes
1answer
80 views
Can I mix GPL with proprietary if it's a GPL plugin?
I am writing some proprietary library, at least for the time being it is proprietary, until I can get enough money to hire a lawyer to properly unwrap this (as I want to opensource, but keep a way to ...
2
votes
2answers
62 views
Can I use a GPLv3-licensed workaround for a chrome bug without disclosing the rest of my web page source code?
Chrome has a bug where it doesn't properly report download progress for gzip-encoded content. I found a library that works around it, as far as I understand by injecting the fix into the DOM.
Now I'm ...
1
vote
2answers
65 views
Adding AGPL patches to a Software with APACHE2 or MIT License
I am interested in creating a fork of an abandoned software. The software which is no longer maintained is release under the terms of Apache 2 license.
Am I allowed to create my patches under a less ...
2
votes
2answers
60 views
Using one source code file from other project with different license type
I want to use one source code file from other open source project which is licensed under GPL3. That source code will be used to perform a single task in my project.
My entire project is licensed ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Can i use MIT licensed library in my GPL3 project
I'm writing a library that I want to use in my GPL3 main project and I wonder if I can license the library using the MIT license.
2
votes
1answer
36 views
I modified an already modified script under GPL v3 and want to allow optional academic citations in my package
I'm building a public open source package that uses, as part of the library, a modified script from an already modified code originally under the GPL v3 license.
I want to allow optional academic ...
6
votes
2answers
906 views
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
829 views
Is Apple allowed to distribute GPLv3-licensed software through its iOS App Store?
This question is specifically about GPLv3, LGPLv3, and Apple's App Store for iOS devices. Given
the additional restrictions Apple imposes on iOS users (i.e. not allowing them to modify and run GPLv3 ...
2
votes
3answers
216 views
Proprietary resources in GPLv3 project
Can a GPL project use proprietary resources (icons) as part of it? What I mean is that if it is possible that there is a repository covered by a GPL license that has a build script that downloads ...
14
votes
4answers
11k views
Is keeping the forking link on a true fork necessary? (Github/GPL)
This question is about a true fork (with new name, different features, different objectives and not targeting a pull request).
When I am developing a new application based on an other project I ...
5
votes
1answer
122 views
How do products like MongoDB not violate the GPL licenses?
I'm quite confused with MongoDB's licensing model. MongoDB at its core is an open-source project, licensed under the SSPL which is a small modification of the AGPLv3 license. Then how does it release ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Using GLPv3 for open-source library modules that can be extended and linked by closed-source libraries and binaries
I'm developing a pretty big open-source project which will require multiple technology stacks. My hope is that this project will be primarily community-based, which means the community should be able ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
Does “open source” always mean “open access”?
I will frame my question with a concrete example:
HELYX is a software based on another software OpenFOAM. OpenFOAM is an open-source freely-accessible software distributed with GPLv3 licence.
HELYX ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
If someone purchases a MIT license for code that is otherwise GPLv3, may they redistribute it? May they upload it on Github?
A fellow developer has done something that has made me curious, he has a popular javascript front-end package on GitHub which for years was licensed under MIT, then all of a sudden he released a v2 ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
Using data generated by an open-source GPLv3.0 software [duplicate]
I'm looking to build a web app that allows users to upload and share JSON data. The JSON data generated and exported by an open-source app licensed under GPLv3.0.
Before I begin building, I want to ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
NAS vendor modified rsync with own options; can I ask for the source code?
My NAS has an app which includes a modified version of rsync version 3.1.3 with additional options:
--XXXX-mode=mode 0:Normal, 1:XXXXXX, 2:USB copy 3:HD copy USB
--check-dest ...
4
votes
1answer
44 views
Can I make a GPLv3 or AGPLv3 software which serves a proprietary protocol?
I'm planning to make a GPLv3 or AGPLv3 library to allow the library user to interact with the multiplayer portion of a non-free, closed-source, proprietary game.
The game's EULA explicitly allows the ...
38
votes
2answers
3k views
Do I have to change license of fork if mainstream changes license?
I forked a repository a year ago, which at the time had GPLv3 license. Mainstream repository has now applied AGPLv3 license. Do I have to change my license too ? My fork's last commit is over a year ...
