43
votes
Accepted
Minified GPL code inside Javascript webapp
Argument #2 has credibility, depending on many factors. The other two arguments you present in your question are not correct.
Dealing with arguments #1 and #3 first:
In the poster's own words, the GPL
...
- 35.6k
29
votes
Minified GPL code inside Javascript webapp
It’s certainly not correct to claim minified JavaScript is source code.
The GPL (both version 2 and 3) defines ‘source code’ as
the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it.
It ...
- 412
15
votes
Accepted
What are the details of this accusation regarding the "web app loophole"?
The quote appears to be misleading. According to “Why did you decide to write the GNU Affero GPLv3 as a separate license?” in the GPL FAQ, early drafts of the GPLv3 allowed an AGPL-like restriction to ...
- 38.6k
13
votes
Accepted
Can I use a GPL component in my site without having to disclose the sources of my site?
The GPL only triggers when you distribute a program that is derivative of the GPL'ed program, e.g. by linking to it. You are free to run a GPL-licensed program without having to accept the license.
...
- 38.6k
13
votes
How to change the license of a project from GPL to AGPL
The most important point you need to consider is that software licenses are irrevocable - i.e. once you have released a specific version of the code under the GPL, it is available under the GPL for ...
- 18.5k
12
votes
Accepted
Is a Web application "released" in the sense of GPL?
No.
From GPLv3’s Definitions section (bold emphasis mine):
To “convey” a work means any kind of propagation that enables other parties to make or receive copies. Mere interaction with a user ...
- 5,580
11
votes
Using GPL or LGPL licensed framework for web application
Running an application on a server is never considered distribution, and you're not bound by the terms of the LGPL for distribution.
Please do note that running javascript in the browser does mean ...
- 9,286
10
votes
Accepted
Is putting a page with javascript in it considered a redistribution
Every lawyer I consulted with always gave me the same answer: JavaScript in web page is code redistributed to whoever loads this page in their browser.
So yes, this is unambiguously redistribution.
...
- 14.3k
10
votes
Is it common to licence blog posts under Creative Commons?
The Creative Common licenses and thus especially CC-BY ones were designed as licenses for creative work like texts, like images, models etc. That includes of course work like texts in blog posts - and ...
- 10.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Does accessing the REST interface of a AGPL-licensed server make the client a derivative work?
The Short Answer:
No
The Long Answer:
The derivative definition is based on copyright law and not a license, and I can't see how a remote web services interface could ever be construed as anything ...
- 566
9
votes
Accepted
If a part of the client-side code is licensed under GPL, does the server-side code have to be under GPL as well?
Lawyers have told me than in most cases the GPL of a JavaScript library running in the browser does not impact the code running on the server side.... within reason: for instance if you use something ...
- 14.3k
9
votes
Accepted
Can one resell any Bootstrap template because of the MIT licence?
No. If Bootstrap were conveyed under GPL, or another copyleft free licence, and if templates were (in copyright terms) derivative works of Bootstrap, then the templates would be required to be ...
- 47k
8
votes
Accepted
How Does The AGPL Apply To Javascript Libraries?
Most of your questions already have answers so I will just link to them:
Is there any difference between the GPL and AGPL for code executed in the browser? For code in the browser, there is no ...
- 5,557
7
votes
Using GPL or LGPL licensed framework for web application
Under the LGPL, running the software under a web server of any sort does not qualify as distribution. As noted in Martijn's answer, passing JavaScript and any markup to create the webpage does qualify ...
- 6,409
7
votes
Accepted
Can I accept donations under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0?
Version 4 of this license has pulled out the NonCommercial definition into a separate paragraph, which reads as follows:
NonCommercial means not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial ...
- 5,122
6
votes
Is it legal to multi-use a 100% GPL theme from ThemeForest?
Yes. The number of sites that use a GPL-licensed theme is not limited by the GPL. Using a GPL-licensed theme on only one site is exactly as legal as using it on one hundred different sites.
Using a ...
- 35.6k
5
votes
Can you commercialize a GNU General Public License product?
Firstly, and foremost, IANAL/IANYL.
That said, as I understand this question, you have been asked by a third party to do some commercial website development, the website to be hosted on drupal, and ...
- 47k
5
votes
How to license website hosted on GitHub?
This is really about a practical problem caused by the way GitHub's forking works, together with how the gh-pages branches automatically creates a public page. If you believe that this arrangement ...
- 8,839
5
votes
What are the implications of licensing a JavaScript library under GPL?
The following is the answer I got from FSF, with small edits. Answer was provided by a volunteer with "[this] is not legal advice" disclaimer.
GPL-ed JS is used with other JS without cross calls....
- 641
5
votes
Avoiding copycats when open sourcing website
Copyright isn't the right tool for this: trademarks are. Copyright governs how code and data may be used, but trademarks govern the regulation of names and identities generally.
With a registered ...
- 7,728
5
votes
Accepted
How can commercial products use GPL or LGPL libraries?
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
GPL is a copyleft license. It means that you legally obliged to distribute derivative work under the same or equivalent license (see here ...
5
votes
Accepted
How can I license my GitHub Page hosted in a open-source template?
Keep it simple: CC-BY 3.0 means you have to give attribution. It doesn't require you to share any code or whatsoever. Thus it is generally deemed appropriate to have e.g. in your page footers a line ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
Is having an entirely open-source website a stupid idea?
It is feasible to have the website source code (frontend, backend, administration tools) Open Source. High-profile examples of Open Source backend code include MediaWiki sites (e.g. Wikipedia), and ...
- 38.6k
5
votes
Is having an entirely open-source website a stupid idea?
With a little digging, I find that GNU Savannah is running entirely on free software, top-to-bottom, and currently has over 25,000 registered users.
GitLab used to be entirely free, passing the GNU ...
- 47k
4
votes
What are the implications of licensing a JavaScript library under GPL?
About JS:
As a special exception to the GPL, any HTML file which merely makes function calls to this code, and for that purpose includes it by reference shall be deemed a separate work for copyright ...
- 641
4
votes
Accepted
Do I have to open source a website if I use GPL-licensed blogging software?
As a general rule, the product of running a GPL code does not have to be GPL-licensed. See https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#WhatCaseIsOutputGPL
- 3,911
4
votes
Is a Web application "released" in the sense of GPL?
In the sense of GPL, is a Web application running on a private server without exposing its code considered "released"? (or is the word "distributed"?)
Forget for a second about the GPL and licenses ...
- 14.3k
4
votes
Accepted
How to legally use Jekyll themes by others?
If I use this theme, do I have to keep his license or make my own?
You would have to keep his license -- the MIT license -- for the theme you are using, but that doesn't apply to your content (unless ...
- 633
4
votes
Accepted
Concatenating LGPL code
In general, the LGPL requires you to offer human-readable source code. You could perform that offer of source code using the exact same HTTP endpoint that serves the code used by your website in ...
- 35.6k
4
votes
Statements on GDPR with respect to FOSS
The GDPR applies when processing personal data. The solution for open source projects: Don't process personal data. A static website without any analytics does not perform meaningful processing of ...
- 38.6k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible