Questions tagged [proprietary-code]
For questions about works whose authors retain the ability to control derivates or distribution as given to them by copyright law
89
questions
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Why doesn't Microsoft open-source the existing Edge browser?
Microsoft will soon make Edge a Chromium-based (i.e. WebKit) browser. This is good for Microsoft and the WebKit ecosystem, but not necessarily good for the web as a whole (since this further allows ...
2
votes
1answer
49 views
GPL Application <-> LGPL Plugin <-> Properietary code
I would like to explicitly consider possibility of having either of
Fig.1:
(1-A) A GPL application with dlopen-based plugin system.
(1-B) LGPL plugin for application (1-A), that is linked to (1-C)
(...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Push notifications for Android 8 open source app
I am developing an open source Android app that has push notifications.
If I understand https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/background#services correctly, Android 8 forces me to use ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Can I develop a front-end under a different license than the GPL-license CLI application?
I want to develop and distribute a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for an existing command-line tool (LibLouis).
I want to do so using .NET WPF or Windows Forms, but the library of Liblouis is written ...
4
votes
1answer
299 views
Difference between MongoDB SSPL license and GNU AGPL
I'm trying to understand the difference between the SSPL and the GNU AGPL license, after reading the terms of SSPL.
The 13th clause of the license states the following:
If you make the ...
3
votes
2answers
135 views
Can a closed-source software be free
I saw some closed-source software (for Windows), which license explicitly allows to do everything with it, including disassembling, decompiling and modification, but no source is distributed, though ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
When distributing a Linux kernel driver as source code, what's the difference between Proprietary and GPL license?
The company I work for is selling PCIe cards. I'm writing the Linux driver for it as a Linux kernel module.
When selling these PCIe cards, we give along the Linux kernel driver as source code. ...
3
votes
2answers
92 views
Can I publish only select code under GPLv3 from a private project?
So my team is planning to go open source with a project that has been in development together with an industry partner for some time now. We're not sure about the licensing yet, but GPLv3 looks ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Including the MIT copyright notice when the software is part of a larger proprietary software
From reading the license here I understand how I can use the software but the only condition it imposes has confused me.
The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
included in ...
-3
votes
1answer
129 views
Which Creative Commons licenses are permissive enough for proprietary software?
We are releasing a software under a dual license APGLv3/proprietary.
To build it, we are reusing many components availabe on the web. For source code, those components have to be released with a ...
2
votes
3answers
330 views
Conditions on binaries incorporating BSD 3-clause licensed code
I have developed a software that uses (is statically linked to) code licensed under BSD 3-clause license. Just reading the license terms, it seems to me that I'm obliged to allow any one who I sell (...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
Is it legal to install GNU GPL v2 software alongside my proprietary software
I have developed a set of python-based tools for network testing, and I am currently building a GUI around it and I am going to attempt to sell it. My issue is one part of my code relies on wireshark, ...
6
votes
2answers
109 views
Do Licenses for Test Libraries Apply to Production Code?
(I am re-asking this question here, as I was informed that it was off-topic on Stack Overflow)
My interest in this question stems from concern over the lack of a license in a testing framework I came ...
2
votes
2answers
610 views
Can GoJS be included into an open source project?
Context: GoJS is not open source, its license stating in particular that modification is forbidden (though the fact that its source code is hosted on GitHub seems to confuse some people).
The ...
0
votes
1answer
115 views
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?
4
votes
1answer
439 views
Optional GPL dependency in commercial Python application
I am developing a commerical clock application ("JJClock"), which is written in Python. What I will deliver to my customers will either be a .pyc file or a .so file ("compiled") with Cython -- the ...
-4
votes
1answer
95 views
How ethical and legal is it to develop proprietary software? [closed]
I am a freelancer and recently, built software for an organization. Our deal was for me to develop and submit software at whole. Hence, it is a proprietary software owned by that organization.
I've ...
3
votes
1answer
80 views
Opensource license ownership and collaboration
If a person releases their source under some Open source license. And later if another person contributes to the project through a pull request (in Github). Then, does the contributor gets a say if ...
33
votes
4answers
12k views
Is it legal to use GPL code in a proprietary, closed-source program by putting it in a separate, standalone program?
As we all know, the GNU General Public License (GPL) is a "copyleft" source license: which means it is designed not merely to make the code to which it is initially applied free and preserve its ...
1
vote
3answers
641 views
May I use AGPL license in a desktop application without providing the source code?
We develop a commercial desktop application that uses an AGPL library. The lib's code is just used, not modified. Our application runs completely offline.
May we use the AGPL library without having ...
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Libre Office and proprietary Microsoft file formats
Libre Office can open proprietary Microsoft file formats (although some features are unsupported). But how was it able to achieve this? Did they reverse engineer these formats from binaries?
In this ...
0
votes
1answer
662 views
Can I use GPL 3.0 or LGPL licensed libraries in my commercial closed source IOT product?
I am building an IOT product, an home automation solution, where I am using ESP8266 Arduino Core that is LGPL-2.1 and also few libraries which are GPL 3.0 licensed.
For security reasons I do not ...
1
vote
1answer
322 views
How do you copyright/license software based on MIT-licensed open source code?
I am a former developer that codes in my spare time for fun and to maintain some level knowledge in the subject. So I found an interesting proof of concept online. I saw the potential to modify it and ...
1
vote
1answer
179 views
AGPL/LGPL licensed app usage in proprietary software
I have software with proprietary license. For some reasons I need an AGPL library (DLL). So, for including the AGPL licensed application (To manage license terms) I am using the following methods (I ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Is there an existing license that is copy-left by default, but allows use in proprietary software through case-by-case negotiation?
I'm looking for a license which is designed such that anyone can use my code so long as the license they release it under is copy-left. However, I'd also like to be able to license my code out for ...
1
vote
0answers
235 views
Commercial application that uses R portable and R packages
I wrote an R script application that contains R packages and, mostly, my own code. I would like to sell the script as an application or as a gist (using gist.github.com) to be used by organizations ...
3
votes
1answer
197 views
Does an application linking to an unmodified LGPL-3 library need to be debugger-friendly?
I currently work on a proprietary, closed-source software suite, which is distributed to customers as part of a larger package (including various hardware and services).
The software suite uses LGPL-...
0
votes
0answers
135 views
How could other people know that I'm using GPLed libraries in my application?
I know nothing about GPL before, and I am living in a country that doesn't have much care about licenses either. I am studying this GPL thing today and I came to know that when I am using a GPLed ...
1
vote
1answer
269 views
How to write additional permission for LGPLv3 license
I’m planning to release my code under LGPLv3 license but I can’t find answers to several question.
Let me describe my situation:
I’ve created library and want to use LGPL v3 license for this code;
...
3
votes
1answer
279 views
GNU Lesser General Public License with signed C# assembly
We have a closed source software written in C# that we sell. All of our assemblies are signed. We want to use a third party assembly, that is published under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1....
3
votes
1answer
250 views
Will there be any obligation if I distribute GPLv3-licensed software inside the Docker container?
I have a GPLv3 code inside the container which I am planning to distribute. I also have a proprietary code in the same hardware where the GPLv3 code inside the container runs.
Does this mean I have ...
0
votes
1answer
207 views
Mixing GPL v3 and Proprietary library
My application has two parts GUI and a backend algorithm module. I have used a library under GPLv3 to write my GUI. In the GUI we can create a workflow of different digital signal processing units so ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Proprietary desktop application that works with AGPL-licensed server application
I'm programming a desktop application that's proprietary. On my server, it will run application with the AGPL (Affero General Public License). Server app will process the data that will come through ...
5
votes
2answers
345 views
Dual license or relicense when the new license is more permissive?
An organization is considering changing the license of an OSS repo on GitHub. For the purposes of this question, assume that organization has the legal rights to change the license.
It is currently ...
3
votes
0answers
127 views
Ok to mix open source with closed source?
I am considering creating a product which has 2 parts:
Client (video screengrabbing) - which makes use of an existing (GPL licenced) screen grabber and uploads video + metadata to …
Server (video ...
3
votes
2answers
174 views
Are there legal issues with bundling one's own LGPL-licensed code with proprietary code?
My company's legal team is currently worried about how to move forward with some app releases intended for our enterprise customers.
Here's the gist of it:
We have many products referred to as "apps"...
0
votes
1answer
411 views
Can I add a git submodule with an All Rights Reserved license?
I have a project with GPL v3 license. And it has git submodules with the MIT, Apache v2 and All Rights Reserved due Berne Convention.
Am I violating copyright having public git submodules with All ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
Is using MIT-licensed code in non-open source code considered stealing?
What if we use MIT-licensed code in our propietary software? Is it considered stealing?
I saw some software that was packaged with MIT licensed code in the installation directory.
Some people think ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Can software that depends on proprietary software be free?
Suppose I write a Matlab script and place it under the GPL. The question is whether the result can be considered free software.
On the one hand, the script itself is clearly free. On the other hand, ...
6
votes
1answer
281 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
88 views
Propietary software + GPL source code modified to work with my propietary software
1) I find the source code for a program that is GPL licenced (ie, a video player, which supports playing videos at 16k resolution! [joke]).
2) I wanna play a video on it, but it doesn't offer an ...
0
votes
2answers
522 views
copyleft licenses allowing dynamic linking with open-source program only
I am writing a library, currently under GPLv3 because I do not want my lib to be linked with a non open-source software.
A friend of mine is writing a program under the MIT X11 License and needs my ...
5
votes
2answers
146 views
Can an open source/free alternative put a company at risk? Has this ever happened?
There is a very nice quote by Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa (Spanish writer and inventor) which reads:
"El éxito o el fracaso de un invento no depende de a quien beneficia,
sino de a quien perjudica."
...
6
votes
1answer
8k views
Use of BSD-3 Clause license and python software license for proprietary use
I am making a software in python programming language which uses libraries licensed under BSD-3 clause. Is it necessary for me to show my source code to users? Also can I restrict the distribution of ...
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Mozilla Public License for core open source modules but proprietary modules?
I have built a framework that has the core modules: module1, module2, module3, module4.
But I have also build module5 that uses the core modules and also derives classes from the module1. I want ...
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Android GPL app that opens a closed source app
Is legal if I edit an open source app with GPL license and make it open source again with GPL license but for doing some tasks it opens another app that is not open source?
For example: GPL app ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Use a modified GPLV3 library - what code should be made public?
Situation: A commercial product, using a locally modified GPLV3 licensed library. GPLV3 clearly requires to disclose source code.
Question: Which source code are we talking about about ?
(a) The ...
1
vote
1answer
748 views
MIT license ambiguity about copyright?
I asked this question in softwareengineering.stackexchange.com but it was pointed out to me that it is better suited to be posted here. I deleted the original thread in the other subforum.
So the ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
Can I make a closed-source game if part of it utilizes a EUPL-licenced code?
I want to make an app game in which I make use of a code that is licensed under the EUPL. The code will probably make up about 10 to 20 percent of the game's entire code (the rest will be original ...
4
votes
2answers
275 views
Re-implementation of a proprietary API
There is a proprietary library whose API I want to re-implement, which is provided to the users with specification, and its use is limited by its license to internal evaluation (to develop programs ...
