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Questions tagged [license]

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This tag is used for concerns about licenses to software and what rights one grants.

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7 views

Is my software still “free” if I charge for its commercial use and not for non-commercial use?

"If you plan to use [some software] on a commercial basis, you must separately purchase a commercial-use license" [1] Assuming the commercial-use and non-commercial use licenses for my software both ...
0
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1answer
69 views

Own license creation [duplicate]

For instance, in Github, can we declare our own license (in LICENSE.txt): "make any use only if you declare the author", or must we choose known ones like GPL3, MIT, etc
2
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1answer
29 views

Can AGPL code depends on closed source code

I have a closed source module (A) in odoo that it working fine without depending on anything. Now I would like to add an AGPL module(B) and integrate it with the module (A). So, I am planning to ...
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1answer
33 views

Trying to understand MIT, BSD and Apache 2.0 licenses and attribution with real examples

Trying to make sense on how MIT, BSD and Apache 2.0 licenses and attribution work, I've taken some real examples from GitHub. The open source software projects below are classified according to these ...
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0answers
20 views

What I should consider about licenses when starting a software project? [duplicate]

I'm trying to come up with all the license-related considerations I should think about when starting a software project from scratch. I believe taking into account the licenses of programming ...
0
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1answer
69 views

Can I use a General Public License code from a github repositiry?

I'm working on PDF password cracking tool which borrows a file from John_the_ripper_bleeding_jumbo. I want only one single file, pdftojohn.pl. How can I use that file? The licensing information ...
3
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1answer
48 views

Distribute binaries of GNU GPL licensed project without source as copyright holder

I don't quite understand what I, the copyright holder of a project, am permitted to do according to the license I have given my project. I want the source code for most versions of the project to be ...
3
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1answer
28 views

New Bioconductor package function redistribution

I am creating a new package that I would like to submit to Bioconductor. It's essentially a C code, which is called by R (using Rcpp). One of the C functions within my package, is the C code of the R ...
3
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2answers
93 views

Releasing the source code of a premium feature for another open program

If I use a compiled program/non compiled source code which is under a license that everyone has the rights do use and sell (Eg: GPL) and no one can deny any person to use or sell it and then I want to ...
6
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1answer
519 views

Is ONLYOFFICE restricting our freedom with their FAQ? (AGPL v3)

or am I seeing this wrong? After some digging (It's NOT easy to find on their site), I found the community version ("Open Source" version) of ONLYOFFICE. However, after reading their FAQ, it seems ...
2
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1answer
41 views

Using third-party libraries in my webapp (Python)

I've searched the web for information about this, but haven't found a clear answer, that I understand at least. I have created an Flask app, which utilizes libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, Scikit ...
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2answers
45 views

if a company rewards the use of software, which license should apply? [closed]

I need to develop free software for a company. The company will reward me with 8% of the profits. I have to give the source code to the company so that they can modify it if necessary. Is there a ...
2
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1answer
89 views

Distribution of Python modules

I've been thinking about create a couple of python-based applications and distributing them for free. My applications will be only for Windows since it is the system I use personally. What I am ...
3
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1answer
58 views

How to handle license for third-party packages?

I've created a Python package, and it contains another package written by a third-party: my_pkg/ |- vendor | |- vendoredFoo (MIT license) | ... How to handle the license of vendoredFoo, ...
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2answers
45 views

License that is MIT-like but prevents wholesale republishing or sale of the original [closed]

I'm releasing a bunch of code that is part of free teaching resources and lessons I'm providing. For the most part, I'm totally fine with others reusing the code however they want. That's the point. ...
3
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1answer
50 views

How to label and license Derivative Works made under Apache License, Version 2.0?

I duplicated a source-code file released under the Apache License, Version 2.0, made very few changes to adapt the code to slightly different situation. So this would seem to be a Derivative Works as ...
3
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0answers
31 views

What is the license of models built on pretrained embeddings?

I was trying to figure out this problem in the internet. What if I train embeddings on the wikipedia texts? And then use them in training of my model? For example, fastText embeddings are distributed ...
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1answer
37 views

Go vendor license

I am trying to use Hyperledger Fabric open source project and it has been licensed under Apache License 2.0 but while check it's vendor license it got opencontainers/go-digest which is licensed under ...
21
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3answers
8k views

Can I ignore an open source license if I checkout a version that was released prior to the code having any license?

There's a package on Github that was released fully without any license and it stayed this way for close to a year. Then just recently after no updates since the initial commit, a License was added. ...
3
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1answer
204 views

Under what license may I take and use screenshots of LibreOffice?

Recently, I have been considering making some screenshots of LibreOffice's applications and putting them on my blog (just as graphical examples for the text). But then, I started to think about what ...
1
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1answer
43 views

Using an Image from a project governed by a BSD license

I wanted to use some images from a project governed by the 3-clause BSD license, but I can't find any information about whether it's allowed or not. The license specifies: "Redistribution and use ...
2
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1answer
48 views

Does a software license apply to a stripped version of the original binary?

If I create a binary that contains exactly the same class-, method- and field signatures as a proprietary application, but I've left everything else out - does the license of the original app still ...
2
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2answers
177 views

Can I use a GPLv3 JavaScript library on a website I'm developing for a client?

I was intending on using a GPLv3 licensed JavaScript library on a website I'm developing for a client. This library would be part of the theme. Will this necessarily make the entire them GPLv3 so my ...
0
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1answer
62 views

AGPL used with a modular framework, modules are not open source

As far as i understand, the AGPL license permits me to use the library (https://github.com/Corvusoft/restbed) for a server that faces the web and is publicly accessable, as long as the server it's ...
3
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1answer
83 views

Can I use an alternative license on GitHub that is not listed there?

Can I use an alternative license on GitHub that isn't listed? Specifically I want to use License Zero.
0
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1answer
290 views

Why am I being asked for a license key to use an open source product?

I am testing the Tyk API Management solution and it asks me to provide a license key: https://tyk.io/product/tyk-on-premises-free-edition/ Why this product is not fully available for free? What ...
3
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1answer
78 views

Restrict commercial use to protect users

I have a piece of software that could potentially be modified to provide revenue, but it is not going to be clear where the revenue goes - I want to add a license condition that ensures all users of ...
3
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1answer
110 views

Can I remove the Modernizr credit from the top of my .js file?

I am working on a project that uses Modernizr, which uses the MIT license. I have a modernizr-custom.js file containing code downloaded from their website and this at the top: /*! modernizr 3.6.0 (...
3
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2answers
119 views

Are there any hybrid open-source/proprietary software licenses and business models?

Does licensing and ownership of software and intellectual property work on a spectrum of extremes and in-between nuances, or is it an "either this or that" decision? Let me give concrete examples ...
0
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1answer
82 views

Can the fine print (ToS) of Github permit them to seize copyright of my code if someone else uploaded it? [duplicate]

I was alarmed to see that someone uploaded one of my old GPL'd projects to Github. I don't use Github or any other Microsoft product. Github has refused to remove it however, and suggests I contact ...
2
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1answer
27 views

Code workflow is licensed Apache 2, but the data generated is BY-NC-SA. Can I recreate the data and commercialize it?

There is a website that offers both a codebase to process some arbitrary public data (as Apache 2.0), but licensed the output data of the workflow as BY-NC-SA 4.0 (at least the processed data on the ...
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1answer
34 views

Which of the license is used by SaaJ-api ? CDDL or GPL?

I am looking at https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/javax.xml.soap/saaj-api It mentions 2 licenses: CDDL and GPL. Does it mean it uses both licenses ? or any one of them ? If just one of them how to ...
2
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1answer
56 views

GPL with Classpath Exception License

for example, File A.java is distributed under GPL with Classpath Exception License.. And I develop software C. There is a B.java file in C. B.java imports A(not A.jar, but A.java) and call function of ...
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2answers
227 views

What open source license allows everything except modification?

There are so many licenses that honestly they are making me dizzy. Here is what I want to do: require my copyright notice and no-warranty statement. permit people to use + run my code. don't permit ...
0
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1answer
55 views

How can an AGPL library be more permissive when using the library's public APIs?

Server-client based HTTP open-source projects like MongoDB use AGPL/SSPL for their main backend implementation and use a more permissive license for their client so that devs embedding MongoDB clients ...
2
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1answer
83 views

MIT license with extra conditions

I read many post and descriptions of MIT license and I have the question that If I use third party library with MIT license that the owner has add extra conditions that limit the use content and the ...
4
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1answer
134 views

Can someone else patent an invention that I have introduced in my open source project?

Is open source protected in any way if I haven't filed for a patent myself? Maybe a specific license? Any examples of open source projects that introduced 'inventions' that could be patented (but they ...
5
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1answer
110 views

Java SDK 8 vs. OpenJDK 8 licenses for freelance development

So I'm new to both freelance development and software licensing. However, I still managed to convince a company to let me develop a small piece of software for them (woohoo!). The company runs JRE 8 ...
32
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2answers
7k views

Is the term 'open source' a trademark?

A few months ago, MongoDB introduced a new license called SSPL following some conflicts with AWS. Later they presented this license to the Open Source Initiative (OSI) for approval for it to be called ...
0
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1answer
73 views

My open source project relies on a paid software

Please, could you propose to me what kind of software license fits my project? I am creating a software project that relies on paid license software. I will release this software for free to help the ...
3
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1answer
50 views

What year to use copyright - current year or library build year?

When attributing open source software, do you always default to the current year or the year that the library you are using was built? For example, I'm using MIT licensed software from a build in ...
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1answer
44 views

Distribution of code of a system that uses open source tool with GPL license

I'm sorry if my question is repeated, but I have searched and read allot about this topic and kind of confused and want to make sure at this point. I'm planning to use an open source tool that will be ...
4
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1answer
69 views

Are downloaded data automatically licensed?

If a purely Apache v2 licensed software automatically downloads data files from its copyright holder's website without asking the user, does that automatically grant Apache v2 license to the ...
3
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1answer
500 views

License to disallow distribution in closed source software, but allow exceptions made by owner?

Is there a license (similar to the GNU v3 software license) that forbids the usage of an open-source software in closed-source software, but except parties that receive approval by the original owner (...
5
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3answers
290 views

How to license scientific software to be open while protecting against misuse?

Note: This question is a revision of an earlier question, which MadHatter suggested should be revised into a new more specific question. Note that there is a lot of similarity between the questions; ...
3
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1answer
253 views

Licenses for scientific software

Edit: This question has been revised into a more specific question here that does not muddy the waters by bringing up the difficulties of supporting scientific software financially. Please see the ...
2
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1answer
77 views

How much changes are required for the “editor” of an open source software to become the new owner?

I think I read somewhere that if you modify the source of a software enough, you become the owner ("author") of that source. First I'd like to make sure that this is correct. If not, then the point ...
4
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2answers
73 views

How does GNU GPL work in a fullstack Android project?

What is the compatibility in terms of license with an API? For example: GPL license from the client side and PHP license from the server side, is it possible? Can the Android application contain ...
2
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1answer
38 views

License of a not anymore existing pip library

I think the question is language agnostic but we are doing an audit and there is a python library which doesn't specify license and it doesn't install anymore. > pip freeze | grep MakeJS MakeJS==0....
2
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1answer
51 views

If I have many distributable packages in the same repository, do I need to include a LICENSE file with all of them?

I'm creating a project with Lerna, so there's multiple NPM packages in the same repository. Is it necessary for me to place a LICENSE file inside each NPM package, such that when the user downloads ...

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