[AuckLUG] GPL 3 - The Real Deal

[Martin Bähr]

On Fri, Jun 01, 2007 at 12:16:50PM +1200, Ravi Chemudugunta wrote:
> agree; but surely - there must be a distinction about which parts your make
> available; if I used any gpl code ... any modifications I make to library
> xyz would ofcourse be made openly available; but what is the point here
> about making business logic open source ... it has no merit to the library
> in question or add anything to it.

the point is that the library enhances YOUR application, and therefore
your application must play by the rules.

> how closed is the source; only changes and editions to library xyz
> need to be open? the whole thing (your application)? ... what if you
> had to embed passwords in your code...would you have to make that open
> as well?

if i need thr passwords to be able to use the application by itself,
then yes. (see the tivo problem)
if the application can run without passwords or with different
passwords, then they are data and not part of the application code.

> I think gpl makes an allowance to this...you can use gpl in a closed source
> project if you make changes to the open source library open;

no it does not.
you are mixing this up with the LGPL (lesser GPL) which is a related,
but different license.

> its abusive to
> GPL to say , its gpl and its not ... depending on if you pay us money...

how is that?
if you own the copyright then you can put your code under any license
you like. and if you like to put your code under a non-gpl license in
return for a pile of money, then nobody can stop you.

otoh. if you are trying to do that to MY code, then you'd be abusing
it, and i would have to stop you. however, i won't (and can't) stop you
if you only charge money, but do not change the license.

greetings, martin.
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