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Questions tagged [gpl]

Questions about the GNU General Public License. If you intend to ask something about this license, CONSIDER NOT TO ASK HERE. Instead check if Opensource.SE (https://opensource.stackexchange.com) would not be more appropriate for your question than this site.

496 questions
38
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Call GPL software from non-GPL software

Can I (legally) use a program that is released under GPL from another program that I'm writing and not have to respect the GPL (for the program I'm writing)? For example, I have a GUI that uses a program (which is under GPL), can I hide the code in…
Valmond
  • 501
35
votes
3 answers

Forking GPL project: Do I have full rights on the new fork or still dependencies with the original owner(s)

I am considering the creation of a fork to a small project licensed under GPLv2, and I have some very specific questions I did not manage to answer in my research on various sites and forums. When I fork the code, I am forced to release the new…
Visiedo
  • 459
16
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4 answers

Is there a loophole in the GPL that allows proprietary software to be linked with GPL libraries?

Let’s examine a hypothetical scenario: Company X writes a proprietary program (A) that dynamically links with a proprietary library (B). Company Y wants to use a replacement library (C) licensed under the GPL, and so writes a wrapper library (D)…
Michael Kourlas
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7
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5 answers

Am I covered with GPL If I want to share open source code of project developed in my company?

I'm working in a company and in my job contract there are confidential clauses concerning code, documents, etc... In the company we are working on an open source project (GPL V3). The project is not shared yet to the public. Do I have the right to…
Ellouze Anis
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7
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1 answer

Should I rewrite the git history of a non-GPL project to remove GPL code that was later removed?

I have an MIT-licensed project that used to include a GPL JavaScript library which has since been removed. Is there any legal necessity to rewrite the revision history to completely remove this code?
mwhite
  • 317
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6
votes
4 answers

GPL License - Selling and Stealing

I understand that when any software under the GPL is given to another the recipient has the same rights over the software that I do. I also understand that this applies to "a work based on the Program". Questions: 1) I noticed several companies…
user1750
  • 163
5
votes
5 answers

What would happen if a bit of GPL code sneaked into the Windows source code?

Imagine that an unfaithful (or maybe careless) employee at Microsoft managed to sneak in three lines of GPL code into a the core of a distribution of Windows. Wouldn't this mean that Microsoft would need to publish all their source code under GPL as…
David
  • 4,439
5
votes
4 answers

Charging a fee for GPL software

If I extend software under the GPL licence, I understand that my source code must be freely available. If my source code is freely available can I legally charge a fee for using the version that I publish? My situation: I'm using data from a program…
MyiEye
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5
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3 answers

GPL code allowing non-GPL local copies of nondistributed code

I have come across a book that claims that alterations and augmentations to GPL works can be kept close-source as long as these are not redistributed into the wild. Therefore, customizations of websites deriving from GPL packages need not be…
Jason Posit
  • 153
4
votes
1 answer

If I used GPL code in server side app, what if any of my code do I need to release?

Consider a service such as Netflix... if on the server side netflix used code with a GPL license attached, do they have to make their server side code available under the terms of the GPL? Obviously netflix being only an example, the company I…
Ninjanoel
  • 151
4
votes
4 answers

Does some code inherit GNU GPL if it just links to a GPL library?

Suppose there is a library xxx under GNU GPL, that provides a function yyy. Suppose my code links to the library and uses this function. Does my code inherit GPL license? IANAL, but my thoughts are conflicting: On one hand, my code is derivative…
user55777
3
votes
1 answer

GNU GPL v2 Copy Left clause, delayed release of source

I am using a modified Linux kernel from a NAS company for my own project. It has been more then one month since the company released a new version of their software which includes the modified kernel so far the code has not been made available. Is…
TBK
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3
votes
2 answers

Using a GPL game engine

I am confused. I thought I would try and use a new game engine in order to expand my abilities, and found a nice engine called springrts. I was looking through the licensing info and it is licensed under the GPL 2 licence. If I remember correctly,…
JosephG
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2
votes
5 answers

GPL Confusion (I made a mistake)

I have a project that I created under GPL (I am copyright holder). The mistake I made is I deciding to go closed source, in doing that I removed the open source download access and removed the project from sourceforge. A third party came in and…
Chris Muench
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2
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2 answers

Creator acknowledgement for a modified project (under GNU GPL)

I have been modifying an existing software (which was under the GPL licence). At my workplace, they needed to use the software, but needed some modifications (like new features, different structure, feature modification and removing unused…
Lazarus Rising
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