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emarti
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GNU GPL?

Post by emarti »

Hi,
In GNU GPL, We also have to share program source code. Is this true? Is it possible that only binary code?

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emarti
upCASE
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Re: GNU GPL?

Post by upCASE »

emarti wrote: In GNU GPL, We also have to share program source code. Is this true? Is it possible that only binary code?
In general, this is true. If you use code that is under the GPL, then your code will be GPLed too and you'll have to make the source public available. This also is true if you use a binary release of the code (a DLL or library).

The LGPL doesn't have this limitation. Using code under the LGPL can be used without having to use the license for your app and your app can be closed source.

Be sure to read the additions for each library license. It depends on what they state there.
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leio
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Re: GNU GPL?

Post by leio »

upCASE wrote:The LGPL doesn't have this limitation. Using code under the LGPL can be used without having to use the license for your app and your app can be closed source.
There are demands from the line of "One needs to be able to relink the LGPL'ed library to the closed binary without problems", etc. Essentially it's mostly safe if you link dynamically to the LGPL'ed library. If it's done statically, then depending on the way, there are license infrengement claims hanging on your back.

Also, LGPL doesn't mean you can just incorporate the library code into your sources with slight modifications. You need to make the modifications available, and sometimes that can be catchy :P

I'm not a lawyer, so these are just the observations of mine, and might be wrong.

For GPL there isn't really a question. Any modifications to the GPL'ed code need to be GPL too (might be exceptions with very compatible licenses, not sure there). You can't really take GPLed code and use it in your non-GPL app/lib, etc. Of course there is the possibility to contact the copyright holders, and so on.
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Post by lowjoel »

and for those who even have their mind thought out on the GPL - they wont change their mind easy :P
emarti
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Post by emarti »

Hi again,
In LGPL, it is OK for only binary code but I also have to share object files (*.o). Is this true?

This concept (topic) is very sensitive :) :roll:
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