This page is maintained by the free software foundations licensing and compliance lab. Differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. Lgpl is used to license free software so that it can be incorporated into both free andproprietarysoftware. Our commercial products include support and services. Why you shouldnt use the lesser gpl for your next library. As for openness and freedom, they talk about softwares source code not what you can do with it. The gnu project has two principal licenses to use for libraries. If the library as you received it specifies that a certain numbered version of the gnu lesser general public license or any later version applies to it, you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that published version or of any later version published by the free software foundation. Sluc is a software license published in spain in december 2006 to allow all but military use. The lgpl and gpl licenses differ with one major exception.
The lgpl basically requires read the full license and faq for details you mention that it is licensed under the lgpl, with reference to the full. A lesser general public license lgpl is a license for opensource software that allows for provisions for including elements of free software in either free or proprietary software. The gnu lesser general public license gnu lgpl was designed as a solution for such situations. The vast majority of questions i get about combining gpl and proprietary software concern embedded systems, since linux is a component of so many consumer products these days. So this post is an effort to explain and answer common questions about the. Asfs objective is to provide legal protection to volunteers working on the apache project and to protect the apache brand name from being used by other organization. The commercial qt license gives you the full rights to create and distribute software on your own terms without any open source license obligations.
The lesser general public license lgpl is a more permissive license weak copyleft. Using the ordinary gpl for a library gives free software developers an advantage. Aug 28, 2014 to try to get more developers to adopt open source library usage, the gnu library general public license was created. Clarification of answer by maniacga on 12 dec 2004 20. By 1990, it was becoming apparent that a less restrictive license would be strategically useful for the c library and for software libraries that essentially did the job of existing proprietary ones. Commercial distributors of the software must defend or compensate. Aug 31, 2018 differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. I also often find it confused with gpl, which is something you should never, ever even consider to use in any closed source software that you intend to distribute. Most gpl version 2 software is actually licensed as gpl version 2 or any later version, or.
My understanding is that with lgpl, can i link and use an lgpl library for commercial use, as long as i dont copy code. I often get questions about the lgpl license used for kentor. Its impressive, for instance, to look at sonys web site where they fulfill their gpl obligation, and see the dozens of tv models and many other products that contain linux. Difference between gpl and lgpl difference between. Lgplv3 is the current version of the gnu lesser general public license. Both licenses have the same intention, namely to protect the freedom of users to use and modify the software licensed under lgpl. Asf 3rd party license policy apache software foundation.
The only big restriction is that you must keep the library open source, including any modifications you make to it, and allow your users to obtain the source, licence and information for the library. Jun 25, 2019 the difference between the gpl and the lgpl is that with the lgpl, the entire work doesnt have to have the same license. Free software license provider mit license, apache license 2019 apache license the apache software foundation asf is a nonprofit corporation to support apache software projects. The difference between the gpl and the lgpl is that with the lgpl, the entire work doesnt have to have the same license. This policy provides licensing guidance to apache software foundation projects. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a freesoftware license published by the free software foundation fsf. The lesser general public license is sometimes described as a weak copyleft license, because code licensed under lgpls terms can be combined with code under nonfree licenses, and is. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. Mention of lgplmit source code in a commercial software. Modification of lgpld components suggests contribution back to the creatormaintainer.
What is the difference between gpl, agpl and lgpl licenses. Legal issues are a constant source of questions and confusion. In particular, you either provide all the source code or your object files and the lgpl source code. The primary difference was that the licensed library could be linked to and distributed with any software, regardless of whether it is commercial proprietary software or free open source software. They cant say software is halfopen for commercial developers because its not ture. My software, teem, is released under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl, for a variety of reasons. As such, the lgpl is considered a more commercial friendly license than the gpl, since lgpl libraries can be freely utilized by commercial software. The gpl licenses gplv3, gplv2, lgpl, affero gpl all contain some kind of sharealike license. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component released under the lgpl into their own even proprietary software without being required by the terms of a strong copyleft license to release the source code of their own components.
Support to any codecs using gpl licensed software was disabled, so it can be used. With the commercial license you also have access to the official qt support and close strategic relationship with the qt company to make sure your development goals are met. If they have a licensing question, projects are asked to submit questions to the legal affairs committee jira space. Fluendo includes ffmpeg libraries licensed under lgpl. Qt contains some code that is not provided under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl or the qt commercial license, but rather under specific licenses from the original authors. Feb 25, 2006 if this is what you want to do, use the gnu lesser general public license instead of this license. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a freesoftware license published by the. I want to use pyside2 in it which comes under the lgpl license. Revised versions of the gnu lesser general public license. Can i use an lgpllicenced library in my commercial app. Gpl is basically the legal terminology that makes open source software what it is.
See how to choose a license for your own work for general recommendations about choosing a license for your work. Some features, such as support for some external libraries libx264 and libx265 for example and various filters, are covered by the gnu general public license gpl version 2 or later see commercial x264 license exception below. Since you have access to the codes through open source software, you are permitted to make changes, improve it, and create your own twist. Why the gpl is incompatible with commercial software. Moving to the issue of source publication, that is specifically, deliberately removed under lgpl lesser gpl, providing certain conditions are met. For commercial licensees, all modules are available under a single, commercial qt license. In contrast to lgpl, gpl requires that you provide the code for all changes made to the software. What is foss licensesapache, bsd, gpl, lgpl explained. It identifies the acceptable licenses for inclusion of thirdparty open source components in apache software foundation products.
It is a software license published by the free software foundation. Im not clear on how that affects your products licensing. Version 3 of the lgpl is the latest version, written in 2007. Software licensed with any gnu license can be used and modified everywhere, without any restrictions in private and even in corporate environments. To try to get more developers to adopt open source library usage, the gnu library general public license was created. Lgpl software your api would be considered a derivative work and the new library would then be subject to the same compliance terms as the original software. In combination with the polyform noncommercial license we sell licenses for customers who use epplus in a commercial business.
If opensourc e software is licensed under the lgpl, other software developers may use it for their software development projects even if their projects are closedsource or otherwise proprietary or commercial in nature. You may copy, distribute and modify the software provided that you state modifications and license them under lgpl 2. A lesser general public license is used to license free software so that it can be incorporated into both free software and proprietary software, and is often referred to as the weaker sibling of gpl. My question is that if i will be able to sell the software packed along with pyside2 without making my proprietary code public. Track in fossa gnu lesser general public license v2.
Anything statically linked to the library can only be redistributed under lgpl, but applications that use the library. So a futre consumer product licensing opensource software under gplv3 could not be protected in this way against device vulnerability. You may copy, distribute and modify the software provided that you state modifications and license them under lgpl2. Jun 21, 2016 it also contains a patent license and retaliation clause which is designed to prevent patents including patent trolls from encumbering the software project. Qt documentation is available under commercial licenses from the qt company, and under the terms of the gnu free documentation license fdl version 1. Gnu general public license, version 3 spdx short identifier. While you may download our software product under the lgpl free of charge, we also offer our software under a commercial license. Proprietary software sormec marine and offshore cranes. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license published by the free software foundation fsf. This means that you still cannot use these modules in closedsource software. That make sense for programs you compile to binary, but what about javascript.
From version 5, we have changed the license from lgpl to polyform noncommercial 1. I will be using pyside2 without any modification to it for designing the gui. Can i use an lgpl licenced library in my commercial app. How can i legally use lgpl javascript in a commercial web site. I want to use the greybox plugin for jquery in my commercial. The qt company gratefully acknowledges these and other contributions to qt.
You can use and distribute lgpl libraries on your website and use them in combination with commercial code. The most common reason for releasing software under an open source license is that a commercial or nonprofit group is developing commercial software but. If you releasedistribute software using lgpld libraries, your software doesnt need to be covered by the gpl, but the libraries must retain the lgpl. To understand the difference between gpl and lgpl you have to understand the basic idea of open source software. See the wikipedia article on the lgpl for more information. This is an attempt to clarify the most important issues. It also contains a patent license and retaliation clause which is designed to prevent patents including patent trolls from encumbering the software project. So this post is an effort to explain and answer common questions about the lgpl. I am making a commercial application for my own company. Gpl requires you to release the modified source code only if you release the modified program.
However you must license qt under the lgpl and discharge your responsibilities under that license. Dec 06, 2004 clarification of answer by maniacga on 12 dec 2004 20. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the gnu lesser general public license from time to time. Word processors android apps ios apps commercial trademarked formerly proprietary formerly opensource community free software. The commercial product includes services such as support, maintenance, professional services, integration, or the like. If the library as you received it specifies that a certain numbered version of the gnu lesser general public license or any later version applies to it, you have the option of following the terms and conditions either of that published version or of any later version published by. As for openness and freedom, they talk about software s source code not what you can do with it. Users choosing to use cgal under the freeofcharge open source license have to comply to its terms, otherwise they have to buy a commercial license. With a weaker copyleft than the lgpl, the eclipse license is more. With the commercial license you also have access to the official qt support and close strategic relationship with the qt. The usual disclaimers apply, this is not legal advice. How can i legally use lgpl javascript in a commercial web.
Ffmpeg is licensed under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl version 2. The lgpl requires modifications to the work to also be distributed under. Describes the ability to use the software for commercial purposes. If this is what you want to do, use the gnu lesser general public license instead of this license.
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