[OSGeo-Discuss] GIS_Libraries

[Picavet Vincent]

Hi,
Some more precision.
 
> 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.

It depends what you call <utilizes>. If Mapserver links with the
ShapeLib library, the latter being under GPL licence, then its source
code has to be released. This is the <contaminating> part of GPL.
The situation you describe is true if ShapeLib is under LGPL. If it is
under GPL, everything linked to it must be under a GPL-compliant
licence.

As Daniel says, GPL code can not be embedded in or linked to a closed
source application. Period.

Please also note that the GPL licence does not prevent any commercial
usage of the software.

Hopes this helps to clarify things.
Vincent



> 
> 
> > 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/
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