Sage-Tips

How is open source software sold?

Re-licensing under a proprietary license If a software product uses only own software and open-source software under a permissive free software licence, a company can re-license the resulting software product under a proprietary license and sell the product without the source code or software freedoms.

Which software is released under GNU GPL license?

GPL was the first copyleft license for general use. Historically, the GPL license family has been one of the most popular software licenses in the free and open-source software domain. Prominent free software programs licensed under the GPL include the Linux kernel and the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC).

Do I need to license my software under the GPL?

If you release/distribute software using LGPL’d libraries, your software doesn’t need to be covered by the GPL, but the libraries must retain the LGPL. Modification of [L]GPL’d components suggests contribution back to the creator/maintainer. I’m not clear on how that affects your product’s licensing.

Does the GPL require a company to release its modified sources?

A company is running a modified version of a GPL’ed program on a web site. Does the GPL say they must release their modified sources? (#UnreleasedMods) The GPL permits anyone to make a modified version and use it without ever distributing it to others. What this company is doing is a special case of that.

Can I use the software under the GNU general public license?

The GNU General Public License and Lesser General Public License only address copying (or “conveying”, in GPLv3 terminology), not use. In fact, you can use the software for any purpose you want, because you aren’t even required to accept the license.

What is the GPL and how does it work?

(#UnreleasedMods) The GPL permits anyone to make a modified version and use it without ever distributing it to others. What this company is doing is a special case of that. Therefore, the company does not have to release the modified sources.