Questions tagged [license]
This tag is used for concerns about licenses to software and what rights one grants.
171
questions
10
votes
3answers
5k views
Can I disregard GPL just because I use autoconf?
I found the following text in licenses to some software I am considering to use:
As a special exception to the GNU General Public License, if you
# distribute this file as part of a program that ...
-1
votes
0answers
38 views
Enforcing A Copyleft License Or Require Payment For Use In Proprietary Software [duplicate]
There are many software products that are made available under copyleft licenses, but are also available for use under proprietary licenses if purchased.
These pieces of software often have "...
0
votes
2answers
115 views
Can a license be licensed?
Since licenses could also be viewed as IP, is it possible to release a license under another (or even the same) license, which could impose conditions on the usage of said license?
12
votes
4answers
3k views
Trying to understand an old custom license
I found this code that I want to use:
https://github.com/ObjectivitySRC/PVGPlugins/blob/master/NonBSDPlugins/DataMineReader/dmfile.h
The license is on top and states:
If you do use this code please ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Is it legally required to name used libraries under Apache 2.0 when publishing an Android app?
My Android app contains many libraries licensed under Apache 2.0. According to my understanding, when publishing the app, it is enough to add the following sentence in the app's description: "...
7
votes
4answers
483 views
LGPL obligations implementation in beta versions
As far as I know, LGPL mandates that the respective licenses are featured in file and in app visual representation.
The former is a simple distribution matter, but the latter is a gui feature.
Assume ...
1
vote
3answers
76 views
Can any project under ISC have the license migrated to MIT text by me if it possibly meets the criterion? (+the permissions listed within MIT License)
Was wondering after I had seen this answer on ISC vs BSD vs MIT
If both explicit & implied rights are the same and the permissions mentioned in the ISC are also found in MIT, including to sub-...
0
votes
2answers
99 views
Why FreeBSD License is considered a permissive license instead of weak copyleft license?
From FreeBSD License:
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
met:
1.Redistributions of source code ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Using EPL 2.0 library as a node module in APL 2.0 project
I plan on using an EPL 2.0 Library in an Apache License 2.0 project as a dependency for the UI. I won't be modifying the source code but I believe when we do npm install to install the library, the ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Does a copyright notice in a file header affect the licensing?
I'm a little confused about the licensing. In the LICENSE file it says that the repository is under MIT license.
But in the header of some js files there is a copyright notice with apache-2.0.
Does ...
-3
votes
3answers
72 views
How web design programs let users edit HTML elements and gives CSS? Do they have a permission(license) for that?
How web design programs let users edit HTML elements and gives CSS? Do they have a permission(license) for that?
The question is about HTML5 and CSS licensing. I know we can use them in our websites ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
distributing gcc together with program
Ok so i have a project which requires gcc to work. I would like to distribute gcc binaries together with program for sake of convenience. What are legal requirements for this. Should i add copy of gcc ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
Does the compilation always have the same license as the source code?
Let's say I have a work which consists of a source code and some license.
The source code can be a program (e.g. written in C) but also an image (e.g. written in SVG).
This source code can be ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Does copyright infringement apply to user interfaces in a software?
I am making an open-source software that is an alternative version of another very popular software, Postman. The inspiration reflects mainly on user interface and concepts. No source code was copied ...
3
votes
1answer
118 views
What does the ICU License state about third party rights?
The license link. Can someone elaborate "NONINFRINGEMENT
OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS"? What is being implied here? It's confusing to me. I will choose the answer with most votes.
2
votes
1answer
50 views
1 File with two Licenses
I'm writing a project, and there is a code that I would like to use, from here:
https://developer.mozilla.org/es/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Set
The code is over CC0 licence, all fine,...
1
vote
0answers
39 views
How does software licensing works for Docker Images on commercial usage? [duplicate]
I want to develop and share an application for commercial usage (closed source only). This application only "lives" inside a Docker Image. This Docker Image is based an own Dockerfile which ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
How can I use Apache License-2.0-licensed software in my MIT-licensed software? [duplicate]
• License and copyright notice
May I add notice to LICENSE file like the following?
MIT License
Copyright (c) 2021 me
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to...
-----
...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Different license for JSON files and images
I'm working on a web-app that has a pretty big .json database file baked into it with a lot of images associated with it. The database & it's images will be frequently updated alongside the main ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
I previously released a work under GPL, can I release the same work under another license?
Some time ago, I wrote a small program to automate a simple task. At the time, I released the program under the GPL license. I'm the sole author of the work and it was not created for hire (I was not ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Do I have to ship a LGPL library as a whole?
I plan on using a LGPL licenced library for my work (my projecte will be MIT). I only use a subset of the library files though, since I plan on statically linking the library.
Do I have to provide the ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Package that includes a library file with non-commercial license
We are trying to use a package released by a commercial entity for use with one of their reporting software. I think it was closed source at one point then they converted it to a "Community" ...
2
votes
2answers
45 views
Using GNU General Public Licensed code in an MIT Licensed application
I am developing a GUI Java-based application using swing and am thinking of using the MIT license, though when reading the licenses stated in the components of java swing I see that they are licensed ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
What are the restrictions for software licenses if I use source code from the Java documentation?
I plan to use source code from Oracles Java documentation, which contains the following license information. Since I'm not used to publishing my code, but I have to this time, I have no idea of the ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
What is the appropriate license that I should pick for my software?
We are making use of the following tools in our software, and not modified any of these tools. Tools 1-3 are used directly in my software. Tool 4 is used for reference, but included as part of our ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
How do I pick the best suited license for my software?
I own a new software development company, and I developed some software that I want to sell in the future, but for now, I want to give it out free but still want my company accredited in some type of ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Licensing a library under the MPL
The Mozilla Public License 2.0 is a license that specifically allows you to include source code licensed under it, in any program without restrictions, provided users are given a copy of the MPL-...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Which licence(s) is Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) using?
I found Automotive Grade Linux , which is an open-source project based on Linux for automotive applications. This (German) news article says that you have to pay money to be a member of AGL. However, ...
0
votes
2answers
83 views
What are the *restrictions* in permissive licenses like MIT or Apache 2.0?
If I (or a company where I work) use a source code part from an open source project licensed under a permissive license like MIT or Apache 2.0 it is clear I can modify, edit etc it.
What is not clear ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
Change of version of Dependency: Does it constitute a Derivative Work?
We are building a product with 100s of OSS dependencies. We want to fully comply with the OSS license terms.
Let's assume our product has a direct dependency "DDep_v1" under MPL-2.0 license, ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
License for R Package in GitHub [duplicate]
I would like to ask a question about package licenses in R. I have a package in R (in GitHub), and I offer a course on how to use it, as well as other topics in my professional field, which have been ...
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Distribute Nexus OSS with custom software
Nexus OSS is distributed using the Eclipse Public License.
The Sencha Ext JS component belonging to Nexus OSS is licensed under GPL v3.
Nexus Repository OSS is distributed with Sencha Ext JS pursuant ...
2
votes
2answers
44 views
CC BY-NC-SA "ShareAlike" (source vs binaries)
If I use and adapt a part from the source code of an open-source (Java) project Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA (3.0) into my project :
I know the "ShareAlike" requirement means I'll have to ...
3
votes
2answers
410 views
Is GPL copyleft triggered by distribution alone?
Would distributing a commercial closed source application along with a GPLd standalone binary, which the closed source application calls trigger the requirement to license whole app under GPL? (For ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
Setup file installs DLLs
I have a Windows Forms Project written in C++ CLI with MySQL Database integration. I have created a Setup File using INNO Setup but I need to include MySQL.Data.dll to deploy the application, so ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Can I redistribute to public domain a contribution I made to an MPL 2.0 licensed project?
I made a contribution to an MPL 2.0-licensed project a while ago. I am not the maintainer of this project, I don't own it and I'm not affiliated to it in any way (apart from this specific benevolent ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
MIT license alternative with explicit trademark use protection [closed]
Do you know a license, if possible approved by the Open Source Initiative, that's very similar to the MIT license but has explicit trademark use protection like the MLP 2.0 license?
3
votes
1answer
42 views
Am I licensing this code correctly?
I am using icons from here for my web project.
This is the file I used for one of the icons:
<!--
This file was licenced under the following license:
MIT License
Copyright (c) 2020 Paweł Kuna
...
4
votes
1answer
452 views
If I use a lot of libraries with the exact same license, can I condense the required attributions and notices?
I'm developing a project that happens to use a lot of open-source third-party libraries by different authors. Most of these libraries use the same license (mostly MIT, with the occasional Apache or ...
2
votes
1answer
274 views
Commercial license required to build Python packages with Microsoft C++ build tools?
The developer life becomes incredibly complicated once you work in commercial companies. Recently, I ran into the problem that I wanted to install the Python packages turbodbc, sktime, and tslearn. ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Should the license header be preceded by the copyright holder?
I'm open sourcing a proprietary codebase (license TBD, probably Apache) were all files have the header:
Copyright <company name>. All rights reserved.
Should this line be preserved in addition ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Separately licensing source code and website content
I am fairly new to actual open source licensing, since I usually just add the Unlicense to all my Github repositories, just to have it completely permissive for everyone.
I recently started a small ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
MIT License for a translation
There's a software called vnpy on github that's in chinese.
We have a translated copy to english. The goal is to keep their MIT license but just for that code.
We're wondering: Should we make a ...
-1
votes
1answer
108 views
Can I distribute my program under LGPL if it has a password identification mechanism?
So I'm making an application which uses the python module PySide2 which is under LGPL. What I'm planning is to sell my program and make it non-distributable by making a unique password-identification ...
0
votes
1answer
108 views
Open Source license which allows only me for commercial use [duplicate]
I'm developing an application. I want to open source my application for non-commercial use in Github(I guess GPL v3). And I want to retain the rights to redistribute the same software with some ...
26
votes
4answers
5k views
Can an NDA block GPL freedom number 4?
Let's say a company modifies a GPLv3 software. All it's employees can use the modified software and have access to the modified source code.
The company's employees don't have the right to distribute ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Where can I find a final, authoritative, clear list of how to handle "license snippets" for common licenses?
I am looking for an authoritative, clear and up-to-date document on what exactly a person or an institution has to do for the so-called "license snippets"/"license notice" for ...
3
votes
1answer
56 views
MOZILLA PUBLIC LICENSE 1.1: Do I have to update all my source code files in a proprietary software project if I include a lib with MPL v1.1?
I am planning to use Hunspell lib which is under MOZILLA PUBLIC LICENSE 1.1 for proprietary software.
Here https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/1.1/ it says in 3.5. Required Notices: "You must ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
GoogleSignIn license in my app's licenses list view
I made an app for iOS and before publication I have to make view, where I list all used 3rd party libraries licenses. Unfortunately, I cannot find license for GoogleSignIn SDK for iOS. This package is ...
1
vote
1answer
230 views
MongoDB's SSPL license: what does "offering as a service" actually mean?
I actually find MongoDB's SSPL license quite hard to understand, especially when thinking about what might constitute „offering MongoDB as a service“.
While I do understand that the primary intention ...