[OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries

[Daniel Ames]

IANAL either, but I do read wikipedia. So by way of clarification...
Everything I've read makes a clear distinction between GPL and LGPL such
that GPL code can not be embedded in or linked to a closed source
application. Period. Whereas L-GPL licensed code can be linked to a closed
source application.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Lesser_General_Public_License

So if the individual wants to link to GPL licensed code/libraries and is
willing to make his code GPL then fine. He can still run a commercial
business based on this code, as many people do.

But if he wants to keep his code under some closed-source license then he can
not link to or embed any GPL licensed code or library.

- Dan



On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 10:24 AM, P Kishor <punk.kish at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 11:06 AM, Daniel Ames <amesdani at isu.edu> wrote:
> > Nenad,
> > The OSGeo projects use a variety of licenses. You'll see LGPL, MPL, GPL,
> > MIT, and others. If you are developing commercial tools, you'll need to
> > avoid GPL (someone correct me if I'm wrong.)
>
> ----
> Disclaimer: IANAL. Get legal advice from your lawyer before embarking
> on your million dollar enterprise.
> ----
>
> I'll correct you, because, as stated above, you are misrepresenting at
> best, and wrong at worst. ;-)
>
> GPL does not prevent you from making money. GPL only requires that if
> you modify the code that is under GPL, then you must redistribute the
> modified code under GPL. Granted this may not be easy to figure out in
> real world scenarios, but consider the following --
>
> Let's say ShapeLib is published under GPL (I don't know whether or not
> it is; this is only for illustration purpose). Let's say, MapServer
> utilizes ShapeLib, but doesn't modify ShapeLib, but uses ShapeLib as
> is. Let's say, MapServer's creator decides to make millions off of
> MapServer, Inc. He is under no obligation to release the source code
> of MapServer, but he is obligated to release the source code of
> ShapeLib, which is no big deal, because the source code of ShapeLib is
> already available to anyone.
>
> On the other hand, let's say, ShapeLib is modified to perform better,
> or differently, for MapServer. Now, there is an obligation to release
> the source code to the modified version of ShapeLib no matter what the
> value of that value-added might be. That is what the GPL obligates.
> MapServer itself is still governed by whatever license that its
> creator decides to apply.
>
>
> > Also take into consideration development platform/language.
> > My group (MapWindow project) has a number of people using our GIS SDK for
> > commercial applications in the .NET platform. MapWindow is licensed under
> > MPL 1.1 which supports commercial usage.
> > Dan
> >
> > On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 7:07 AM, Nenad Milasinovic
> > <nenad.milasinovic at zesium.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I am interested is there any reliable open source, LGPL licensed GIS SDK
> >> or library suited for building commercial, platform independent GIS
> >> application on top of it.
> >> I am also interested for commercial solutions but only as SDK or
> library.
> >> I will appreciate any help.
> >>
> >> Best regards.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Nenad Milasinovic
> >> Software Development and Testing
> >>
> >> ---
> >>
> >> "ZESIUM mobile" d.o.o.
> >> Valentina Vodnika 8/9
> >> 21000 Novi Sad
> >> Serbia
> >> Tel: +381 (0)21 472 15 48
> >> Fax: +381 (0)21 472 15 49
> >> Mob: +381 (0)61 231 41 20
> >> E-mail: nenad.milasinovic at zesium.com
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Discuss mailing list
> >> Discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Puneet Kishor http://www.punkish.org/
> Carbon Model http://carbonmodel.org/
> Charter Member, Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/
> Science Commons Fellow, Geospatial Data http://sciencecommons.org
> Nelson Institute, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> collaborate, communicate, compete
> =======================================================================
> Sent from Madison, WI, United States
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