Questions tagged [closed-source]
For questions about closed-source software and how it relates to open source.
51
questions
1
vote
0answers
20 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
Can I sell closed source plugins that interface with a GPL v2 software which is open sourced? [duplicate]
Basically, I have an idea for some software based on an Open Sourced application.
If I was to build an application based off of that, and sell my plugins, would this be a breach of terms? This is the ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Open source project on a closed source engine (Unity) with GPL covered data
There's a project called Endless Sky
It's license for Source code is GPL,
The license for Graphics is CC-BY, CC-BY-SA and Public Domain.
The license for Data .txt files with content like this is ...
2
votes
1answer
46 views
Distributing GPLv2 code and ENTIRELY SEPARATE closed-source software (no interaction between them)
Do I have to GPL all software in a .deb package just because it contains some GPL(v2 in this case) code, even if these things have nothing to do with each other except being distributed in
the same ...
3
votes
1answer
85 views
Use of GPL licensed driver in commercial project
In a commercial project for our customer, I would like to install a driver on all target machines. The driver is on sourceforge (http://com0com.sourceforge.net/). The website states that:
The Null-...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
exe using LGPLv3 lib: must I also ship the exe's object files?
If I ship a closed-source .exe that dynamically links to an LGPLv3 library (such as Qt), must I also ship the .obj files from which I built the .exe?
This podcast at 34:30-36:00 claims so, and also ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
What do I need the company I work for to do to open source a program I wrote for them?
I would like to open-source a program I wrote for my employer. As I understand it, this is a “work for hire” (at least in the United States) since I wrote the code for them and on their time. This ...
6
votes
1answer
123 views
Use of closed-source library in LGPL library
I would like to open source my software library under the LGPL license. But I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use that license, as my library uses another library which is currently closed sourced. By ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Can I change my project's license before release?
I started my project with the GPLv3 license, but I haven't released or made available any code related to it yet. As I move further along in my project, I am starting to realize that it is something I ...
0
votes
1answer
224 views
CDDL library and closed source application
I am working on a project that uses a C++ library licensed under CDDL v1.0. Ideally I would like to publish it commercially as well as keep it closed source (wouldn't mind open sourcing it but then it'...
3
votes
1answer
463 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 (...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Recreating assets from closed source projects
Recently I'm working on a game, where I have created some asset from closed source project.
To be honest I actually re-created assets similar identical to hill climb.
Now if I use those or I use ...
3
votes
2answers
320 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
141 views
Can a copyleft, GPLv3 project be closed by its copyright holder?
Let's say a private company released a popular software product under a copyleft (GPLv3) license. It's business model was offering consulting services and premium features for a fee, which in turn ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Effect of 'download separately' on GPL linking
Suppose I have Java jar-files which I provide to my customers under a commercial closed-source license. But my jar-files depend on a few jar-files released under the GPLv2 (without any special GNU ...
5
votes
1answer
776 views
Using Qt Designer to create UI design for closed source application
Am I allowed to create a closed-source application using the LGPL licensing scheme for Qt if I use Qt Designer to generate its user interface?
I originally thought this was possible until I saw this ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
What does it mean for a closed source project to have a permissive licence (CC BY-NC)?
Earlier today I was installing a small free program hosted on GitHub. The End-User License Agreement shown when installing had a few things, but what stood out was:
[...] is licensed under a ...
2
votes
2answers
526 views
IPC between open-source and closed-source applications
We have two applications developed by two teams. One is open-source under GPL, another closed-source without any possibility to open the code.
Also there's a requirement to implement some kind of API ...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
Redistributing 7-Zip Binaries with LGPL & BSD 3-clause License
We want to use 7Zip to extract the contents of the ISO file in our paid product.
There is no other API free library available as of now that can unzip ISO files on all Windows platforms that we want ...
-1
votes
1answer
396 views
A question about closed-source software with GNU GSL for commercial and free-to-use cases
I plan to build a closed-source software with C++ language using GSL (GNU Scientific Library). This software is made by compiling my source codes into executable. By the way, my source codes use GSL ...
3
votes
1answer
119 views
Subclassing, Unity, and the LGPL
I want to release a package on the Unity Asset Store. Based on this answer, it looks like the best option for my situation would be LGPLv3.
However, after doing plenty of research, I've stumbled ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Can you change GPLv2 licensed software, but keep your new source closed?
If I were to make deep modifications to the Linux kernel, virtually make a 'new' kernel in a way, for my project, which is building my own operating system, (yes, I know, a lot of work, but hey, I'm ...
1
vote
0answers
232 views
libquadmath in binary code
I'm developing a small closed source library in C++ for a small company using gcc. For the numerics part I need 128bit floating point arithmetics.
This leads gcc to pull in libquadmath. As far as I ...
3
votes
2answers
147 views
Can a Proprietary Application Exchange Data with a GPL'd Program?
I am considering extending a proprietary application so it communicates with an open source program.
This open source program is very similar to Matlab. The user can input commands to execute ...
2
votes
1answer
134 views
If I share code from my personal project with my employer, who owns it?
I have code from a closed-source personal project of which I am the sole author. At work, I have come across situations where the code is useful.
I want to take a significant amount of code from my ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Bypass LGPL license using wrapper library
I wanted to use a library which is licensed under LGPL (free, only for open source projects). I wanted to use that in a commercial project.
Is that possible that I can develop an open source wrapper ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Apache License 2.0-licensed code included in commercial closed source software
I spent an hour looking for an answer to this question, although I would think a quite common situation, I did not get a totally clear answer to my specific case:
So I am selling a (P)roduct which is ...
0
votes
1answer
917 views
Can I use the Qt Installer Framework in a commercial product?
The Qt Installer Framework (QTIFW) is part of the Qt Framework which is available under the LGPL3. This page lists the components that are available under each license. Unfortunately it doesn't list ...
7
votes
1answer
9k 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
3k views
Can I use angular-material in any commercial project ? Is there any cost for that?
I have using angular material for quite few days. Now I am planning to develop a commercial software using angular material (https://material.angularjs.org/). While going through the license section ...
10
votes
2answers
288 views
Are open source projects growing faster relative to closed source ones?
Are open source projects growing faster (in terms of the number of users and developers) relative to closed source ones? Are there any metrics measuring this?
3
votes
2answers
453 views
Can I distribute GPL software built by a custom compiler? [duplicate]
The license (I pick GPLv3 as an example) says:
The “Corresponding Source” for a work in object code form means all the source code needed to generate, install, and (for an executable work) run the ...
9
votes
1answer
4k views
Is it legal to Bundle OpenJDK + HotSpot with a closed source application?
As per my understanding, OpenJDK itself is licensed under GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception which should be no issue for bundling with closed source application. ...
5
votes
1answer
589 views
BSD-3 Closed Source Attribution
I'm having some confusion with the BSD-3 license language. I am going to close source a bsd-3 project and make modifications to it. I will not be redistributing the code. It will be used as a SaaS. ...
2
votes
3answers
719 views
Finding open source in closed-source code?
Sorry for the title, I don't master the subject enough to find a clear one.
I see that free licenses come with a "same license" and "disclose source" mentions, like stated here.
For instance, I have ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Legal issues about embedded Linux
I am trying to modernize a current microcontroller solution with a new one based on embedded Linux (Debian), running on Allwinner A10 chips. I plan to make a Linux app doing all user-interface stuff, ...
4
votes
1answer
282 views
Using dynamically linked library with BSD 3-clause License
If we are loading a closed source - dll dynamically in the source code which comes under three clause BSD license then is it mandatory to change license of my closed source dll to three clause BSD ...
6
votes
1answer
5k views
Can I use a Apache v2 licensed driver for a commercial project without revealing sources of the project?
I am building a project that will be commercialised. One of the library I use is licensed under Apache v2.
To my understanding, if I modify the library, I need to give the source of the library with ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
Incorporating closed-source derivative into GPL code
I have a closed-source project. I am the copyright holder.
Can I incorporate parts from my closed-source project into an open-source project without running into legal issues commercially using my ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Can I dynamically call a LGPL/GPL software in my closed-source application?
This question was originally posted by marcgg on Stack Overflow (second link might be visible to 10k+ only), but was removed there due to being off-topic. It has been preserved here in light of this ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Can open and closed source versions of software exist in parallel and can code be ported either way?
Say a vendor has both a community version of their software and a more proprietary one.
How can this be done in licensing terms?
Can code be ported either way?
What are the appropriate practises if ...
2
votes
1answer
581 views
Am I allowed to use GNU Unifont in a closed source application?
I was looking for a .ttf font, where almost all of the unicode characters are created. Then I've found the GNU Unifont
It is licensed under GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2
The application I am ...
2
votes
1answer
213 views
Bundling GPL script with closed source script
So what I'm planning to do is to create a script which one part calls (via Python's subprocess) external open source script licensed under GPL-2. To make it easier for users I'd like to distribute ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Own LGPL code in proprietorial project
I've written a library that I use in closed-source project. After a short discuss with my boss we have decided that this library can be useful for many others and we made this library open source ...
2
votes
1answer
536 views
Can I use a library under the Cecill-B licence in my commercial closed-source app?
I'm working on a commercial closed-source app and I need to use a library under the Cecill-B licence.
I read the licence terms here
and it desn't say it is mandatory to distribute the source code of ...
10
votes
2answers
385 views
Is there any recourse when an “Open Source” project has a closed-source core?
I have come across a Java project licensed under Apache 2.0, but there's a fair bit of behavior locked away in an internal package that isn't checked into the project's repository (though the compiled ...
17
votes
2answers
190 views
What to do when proprietary code is found in your open source project?
We have an open source project and suspect one contributor has submitted code that is not their own and is under a closed source copyright.
We know we have to remove the code. Also I assume anyone ...
2
votes
1answer
473 views
How did memtest86 transition from GPL to closed-source?
Memtest86, a popular software for RAM diagnostics, was initially developed as open source (GPLv2). Version 3 was forked into a separate project, Memtest86+, also distributed under GPL terms. Source ...
3
votes
2answers
194 views
Can I open source a closed source project by transcoding/transcompiling its source-code, so it's completely different?
How far I can go in order to open source the project which is based on closed/commercial project where the whole source code (assuming the access is there) has been converted into different state or ...
12
votes
1answer
531 views
What are the main steps to convert a currently closed source project into an open source one?
Given the case of a closed source project that has been developed for some time:
What are the main things that should be done in order to ease its transition to a open source development?
What I've ...
