Questions tagged [open-source-definition]
Use this tag for questions about the definition of open source
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SSPL and the Open Source Definition
MongoDB has decided to change the licensing of MongoDB Community Server, seemingly to prevent businesses from monetizing on their product without giving anything back: https://www.mongodb.com/press/...
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Practical steps to licence Free software and Open Source Projects [closed]
Several discussions have supported the subject of a software license and the majority are limited to offer explanations or definitions (GNU GPL, EULA, BSD License ... etc) without addressing the ...
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How to License a software that uses google drive API
I recently developed a software which currently uses google drive API for some functionalities, i am looking forward to release the software to the public for free. however i am not sure on which kind ...
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Is it possible to write proprietary code that links to a shared library that's open source? Under what license and condition is it possible?
Is it possible to write proprietary code that links to a shared library that's open source? Under what license and condition are it possible?
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Can a proprietary ERP be built from a fork of an open source project?
Can an open-source project be forked and then used to build a proprietary enterprise resource planning app (ERP)?
That is, ERP-A is already built and now I want to build ERP-B. Can I fork ERP-A and ...
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Using iText library with AGPL license to make application open sourced
I am working on a project to generate a 508 compliant annual PDF Publication from our database using iText 7 java library. This library works great for accessible PDFs. We are in the process of ...
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Does an FPGA design in Verilog / VHDL count as software or hardware in terms of copyright law?
If you have a programmable hardware device that incorporates hardware components (LEDs, switches, ADCs, DACs, batteries etc.) but is designed using Verilog or VHDL for the central FPGA design does the ...
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Does point 6 of OSI's definition allow other businesses to sell my app?
https://opensource.org/osd
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it ...
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Why is the Non-Profit Open Software License (NPOSL) OSI-approved?
Recently I came across the Non-Profit Open Software License; tl;dr Legal says this about it:
A variant of the Open Software License 3.0, this license requires that the organization using it is a ...
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Can you commercialize your own GPL product? [duplicate]
I've been wanting to make my own open-source project under the GPL. However, I was thinking of making a paid "professional" version that adds features that are closed-source. Is this possible?
Edit:...
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825
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Open source code with no license [duplicate]
I am looking at working on improving an app that has not been updated for several months, add some features etc. In the description of the app on google play it says that the app is open source and ...
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Naming a software after a person or a brand
I have been wondering about the copyright issues faced by software named after people or brands. As a Python developer, I wonder if there was any issue in Guido Van Rossum naming Python after the ...
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Contradiction: Free "software" does not mean "noncommercial"
Citing the Philosophy of the GNU project:
Free "software" does not mean "noncommercial". A free program must be available for commercial use, commercial development, and commercial distribution. ...
user698
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Open Source Notice on a Commercial Website [closed]
My company is currently evaluating several open source projects to help build out a new Software as a Service Platform (historically we never used anything open source) and we were wondering if we ...
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Can any Firefox add-on be free software now that add-on signing is required?
Since the release of Firefox 48 on 2016-08-02, Mozilla Firefox will not run any add-on that has not been signed and verified by Mozilla. This means, for example, that a user cannot modify an add-on ...
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Is it wrong to call a software Open Source if it is using a license based on GNU GPL?
As an example, the real time operating system FreeRTOS is licensed under the FreeRTOS Open Source License which is based on a modified GNU GPL, the modification taking the form of an exception. The ...
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Freedom 0 licencing issue
"Free Software Definition" says that that a piece of software can be classified as free if it meets The Four Freedoms. The first of these is:
The freedom to run the program as you wish, for any ...
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Google voided Corporate Contributor License Agreements
So when I tried to signed the CLA for my company, it failed and Google told me that "Please have an authorized executive sign this document. ..."
To me it's not quite clear their definition of ...
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Telemetry in open source software?
Is it OK to embed some telemetry functions in an open source project or is it considered spying or privacy violating?
I would like to connect my open source app to Microsoft Application Insights to ...
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1
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Can we edit Google Android sample project and create app
I searched all over the Internet but I was not able to find if anyone has raised this issue. I want to edit some files in an open source sample project provided by Google (change some methods and the ...
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Can open source exist without copyright?
I was asked a question in my law class: is it possible for open source software to exist without copyright protection?
In the absence of copyright, could software still exist that satisfied the open ...
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How to start working on open source projects [duplicate]
I am about to graduate in May and have zero experience outside of school. The only thing worth putting on resume is I have been a TA for intro Java course for a year, and a 2 semester team project ...
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2
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What truly defines open source? Can someone call something open source and charge?
I have recently been looking for open source dating software to build upon and I keep seeing things like this:
www.skadate.com/open-source.php
www.a-dater.com
www.abk-soft.com
ph7cms.com
Which ...
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Why did Richard Stallman recommend not to use passwords? [closed]
In a short interview, Richard Stallman recommends not to put passwords on your wireless network. In the OS Revolution documentary he also mentions how he's disliked passwords ever since his job at MIT ...
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Openbravo ERP is Open source erp? [closed]
I want to deploy Openbravo erp in some companies, but I am confused about it. That ERP software opensource or licencee.
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So the GPL doesn't restrict the creator of the software in any way?
In another thread I started (Red Hat buys Ansible), I am trying to figure out the economic value of a company transaction with respect to GPL'ed software. A few of the answers suggest that the owners ...
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License for my Framework
I'm looking for a good license-model. I am developing a framework.
These key points should be considered:
Can:
modify
distribute
commercial and private use
sell it in modified/extended state
...
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0
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What's the best way to get started on open source projects [duplicate]
It's something I want to get started on and be able to contribute but I don't even know how or where to start. Many employers and recruiters ask if I have any experience with them, I just don't know ...
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I have filled a pending patent, can I still publish my code as an open source? [closed]
I have filled a pending patent for my project in USPTO, can I still publish the source code (project) as an open source?
What about that if I had a complete patent for it?
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Could I run my own websites about projects I do not own?
I've found a few open-source software projects and I'd like to run my own websites regarding them, but not claiming to own them; just make a place where information and such can be found. I believe I ...
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Do non-discrimination clauses only count for my licensees, or also for me as a copyright holder?
The open source definition has a non-discrimination clause. From the annotated Open Source Definition:
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license must not discriminate against any ...
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What are the most common open source license options and how do they differ? [closed]
I often hear about GPL variants, MIT, BSD and many other license options. A general Internet search reveals sites like "Top 20 licenses" or pages some licenses going out of fashion and others coming ...
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Understanding 4th point (restriction to distribute modified source-code) of Open Source definition
The 4th point of Open Source Definition - Integrity of The Author's Source Code:
The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form only if the license allows the ...
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Are discriminatory free licenses still free?
With free licenses, one cannot restrict who or how the software is used.
Suppose that I construct a license that says:
If you are not Steve you are permitted to license under A; if you are Steve ...
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Does a license needs to be approved by the OSI to be an open source license?
The Open Source Initiative has created the Open Source Definition to define what open source is. Also it has set up a formal process to approve licenses to be open source. Now, does a license need ...
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Why is the Reciprocal Public License OSI-approved but not FSF-approved?
The Reciprocal Public License (RPL) is interesting in that it is the only license both OSI-approved and not FSF-approved. It is a copyleft license similar to GPL but with a "reciprocal" clause:
...
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Can a software license meet one of the FSF's and OSI's definitions without meeting the other?
I know that Free Software (this means the concept of free as in freedom, not software that does not cost anything) and Open Source have two distinct definitions. In practice though, they turn out to ...
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Is the CC BY-ND an Open license?
CC BY-ND (Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives) is a fairly restrictive license. It does not allow derivative works.
The Wikipedia article on Creative Commons licenses says that it is not a ...
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Is Open Source Software a subset of free software?
Is Open Source Software a subset of free software?
I was recently asked this and realized I was unsure the exact answer. I understand that free software is not a type of open source software, but I ...
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How can I determine if some code I want to release as opensource is already licensed or proprietary?
Is there a way to analyze my code I want to release as opensource to see if it is / or has parts that are already licensed or proprietary?
