[OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries

[P Kishor]

On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 11:33 AM, Daniel Ames <amesdani at isu.edu> wrote:
> 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.

Thanks Dan (and Christopher and others), I see the distinction now
between GPL and LGPL. However, I am reading the actual GPL text and
its extensive FAQ, instead of Wikipedia's interpretation of it, to try
and sift through all the variations and exceptions to better
understand this now. Hopefully I will come out better informed from
this process. In the meantime, the distinction that you point out
between GPL and LGPL makes sense.

All that said, please note that GPL does not prevent anyone from
commercializing any technology, and that was the thrust of the
original question, if I recall correctly, although, the OP
specifically asked for only LGPL technology, so GPL was out anyway. In
that sense, LGPL is compatible with GPL, but GPL is not compatible
with LGPL.

In any case, all the more reason to consult an actual lawyer before
setting out to do a commercial venture, or, be prepared to make money
while openly sharing your code. Nothing to hide is always the better
policy, or, at least the more headache-free policy.





> - 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
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
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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
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