[geos-devel] GEOS License and iOS usage

Sandro Santilli strk at keybit.net
Wed Aug 8 02:51:35 PDT 2012


On Wed, Aug 08, 2012 at 11:15:33AM +0200, Stefan Klug wrote:
> Hi everybody,
> 
> I'd like to include libspatialite (https://www.gaia-gis.it/fossil/libspatialite/index ) in a proprietary iPhone App. libspatialite depends on GEOS which is licensed under LGPL.
> As far as I know, it is possible to use LGPLed software on iOS if the object files for custom relinking are provided. There are still problems in using LGPLed software on iOS listed in http://stackoverflow.com/questions/459833/which-open-source-licenses-are-compatible-with-the-iphone-and-app-store
> specifically the need for a free iOS SDK which obviously isn't available.
> 
> So what do you, the developers of geos, think about using it on iOS? Do you generally approve the usage on iOS?
> 
> Are there any chances to license GEOS under a more permissive license like MPL or to tri-license it like stated in http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/boilerplate-1.1/mpl-tri-license-html ?
> 
> I know this is a difficult question, but it would be a pity, not being able to use geos on mobile devices because of these constraints.

Sorry, there's a bug in your last statement.
It's not impossible to use geos on "mobile devices".
It is just that specific mobile device preventing its users from
changing applications that run on it.

Beside, isn't spatialite GPL ?

--strk; 

 http://www.cartodb.com - Map, analyze and build applications with your data

                                       ~~ http://strk.keybit.net 



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