Is there a difference between licensing a library under. Lgpl is often used by mistake for many open source projects we are programmers not lawyers. License exceptions software package data exchange spdx. To understand the difference between gpl and lgpl you have to understand the basic idea of open source software. The list of commonly found free and open source licenses for the purposes of being able. You can invoke tools written in gpl just not the code unless that gpl license has something like a classpath exception. Differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. Considering how a static and dynamic linkage of a gpl and non gpl portion of a code effects the software development and hence the programming to much greater extent, i dont see it to be an offtopic and hence i would request to reconsider it to remain open. The mpl and gpl with classpath exception have certain other differences, outside the scope of this faq. Linking a gpl covered work statically or dynamically with other modules is making a combined work based on the gpl covered work. Track in fossa gnu lesser general public license v2.
These exceptions grant an exception to a license condition or additional permissions beyond. Such modified licenses enable software projects which provide library code, to be linked to the programs that use them, without applying the full terms of the gpl to the using program. Where can i learn more about the gcc runtime library exception. The lgpl is similar to the gpl, but is more designed for software libraries where you want to allow nongpl applications to link to your library and utilize it. Developing software avoiding gnu gpl licensing software. This general public license applies to most of the free software. Gpl code you cannot link in anyway without your code being. In the general case, you are correct in that you cant link to a gpl library, distribute your code, and then not release your code as gpl. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the gnu gplv3 license. Instead you can copy and distribute the resulting binary executable under terms of your choice. The problem is that in the site there are a lot of fonts free for commercial use under gpl gnu license but without the font exception like for example dustismo font. Difference between gpl and lgpl difference between. Section doug 2 is not enough for commercial software.
Apache 2 software can therefore be included in gplv3 projects, because the gplv3 license accepts our software into gplv3 works. With the gpl licenses, you are afraid of someone else profiting from your work and ambiguity, and patent trolls no. There are multiple variants of the gnu gpl, each with different requirements. Top 9 gpl with the classpath exception questions answered. Thats what we wrote the gnu gpl for, and the way to achieve this most thoroughly is to release under gpl version 3orlater and not allow embedding in proprietary software. Gnu lesser general public license free software license published by the free software foundation fsf. In the case of gpl with exception, the standard gpl takes over as soon as you take a single step past linking. Pspdf font exception 20170817 psorpdffont exception 20170817. Gpl is basically the legal terminology that makes open source software what it is. Linking is the technical process of connecting code in a library to the using code, to produce a single executable file. A gpl linking exception modifies the gnu general public license gpl in a way that enables software projects which provide library code to be linked to the programs that use them, without applying the full terms of the gpl to the using program. The lgpl has certain requirements requiring a modified version of the library because that is. Linking is the technical process of connecting code in a library to the using code, to produce a single. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license published by the free software foundation fsf.
Indeed, my friend richard fontana came up with the idea to literally make lgpl an exception to gplv3, although in the v2 world, lgplv2 was a fully separate license from gplv2. For this reason gpl gnu team create the font exception that allows you to use any other license in your documents or artwork where gpl gnu licensed font was used. Why corporations favors the apache license over the gpllgpl. This is required for creating runnable executables from source code which is not compatible with the gpl. Does the gpl have different requirements for statically vs dynamically linked modules. Gpl vs lgpl gpl and lgpl are software licenses that protect the freedom of the users to share andor change open source software.
See how to choose a license for your own work for general recommendations about choosing a license for your work the gnu project has two principal licenses to use for libraries. In some sense, the lgpl was the earliest and certainly the most widely known gpl exception. The lgpl is similar to the gpl, but is more designed for software libraries where you want to allow non gpl applications to link to your library and utilize it. You may copy, distribute and modify the software provided that you state modifications and license them under lgpl 2. What does gpl with classpath exception mean in practice. The software freedom law center provides practical advice for developers about including permissively licensed source. The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it. However, there is the system library exception which is how folks link against linux libs and still release their product under nongpl licenses another exception is when the two licenses are compatible with each other. Oracle elects to use only the gnu lesser general public license version 2. Most software with licenses have restricted freedom when it comes to modifications and distribution, but gpl and lgpl take away those restrictions thus giving their users more leeway. 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 you shouldnt use the lesser gpl for your next library. Difference between gpl and lgpl compare the difference. The documentation shipped with the library and made available over the web, excluding the pages generated from source comments, are ed by the free software foundation, and placed under the gnu free documentation license version 1.
Linux kernel licensing rules the linux kernel documentation. Compared to the gnu classpath license above, the lgpl formulates more requirements to the linking exception. The gnu lgpl is very popular among independent developers and companies which mainly deals with open source software. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu project. When distributing derived works, the source code of the work must be made available under the same license. Most confusion about the lgpl revolves around this basic property. Gpl code you cannot link in anyway without your code being infected by the gpl license terms, dynamically or statically.
Anything statically linked to the library can only be redistributed under lgpl, but applications that use the library. In gnu gpl it general public license requires that all its derivative works be licensed as a whole under the terms of the gpl. Frequently asked questions about the gnu licenses gnu. Are gnugpl font free for commercial use 1001 fonts forums. Thats why lgpl and doug gpl with exception were created. Thus, the terms and conditions of the gnu general public license cover the whole combination. Doug but, a nagging voice asks, why does the lgpl have its explicit doug disclaimer about derivative works. If im looking at building something using either gpl or lgpl component, i want to be certain what my legal standing is in the future if i land in.
Ordinary users are covered by the exception, but developers need to fix bugs. Lgpl without static linking exceptions works almost like gpl. Linking name of your program statically or dynamically with other modules is making a combined work based on name of your program. This means that combination of the gplcovered plugin with the nonfree main program would violate the gpl. The free software foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. On selling exceptions to the gnu gpl free software. The lgpl has certain requirements requiring a modified version of the library because that is what it was designed for, libraries to be linkable against the. Anthony dos santos christopher nicolae gauthier chaty jean max saintsurin.
A gpl linking exception modifies the gnu general public license gpl in a way that enables software projects which. The free software foundation considers the apache license, version 2. Gpl, also known as copyleft, grants permission to reuse or modify the source code to make derivative works, but if you distribute your program to others, it requires you to license your derivative work under the gpl too. In the case of gplwith exception, the standard gpl takes over as soon as you take a single step past linking. Contains the gcc linking exception which allows to link any binary independent of its license against the compiled version of a file marked with this exception. There are no frontcover texts, no backcover texts, and no invariant sections. A gpl linking exception modifies the gnu general public license gpl to create a new, modified license. Gnu lgpl vs gpl lsoftware icensing short transcript. For example vtv with pure lgpl could be distributed only as. The apache license, on the other hand, is favored by the big corporations for their open source projects. To make my software work, it must be linked to the foo library, which is available under the lesser gpl.
The effect of the gpl with classpath exception is similar. As the free software foundation states, dynamically linking application to libraries creates a single work derived from both the library code and the application code. Is there a difference between licensing a library under the gpl quora. The most important difference between gpl and lgpl is that if your software uses. And the gpl is, intentionally, not very friendly to people who do commercial software.
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