[Qgis-developer] QIGS GPL -> LGPL - Tigers, Lions and Bears Oh My!

[Marco Hugentobler]

Am Donnerstag, 17. November 2011, 10.22:10 schrieb Noli Sicad:
> OK. I understand now.
> 
> However, if you sell the plugin or give it to the third party, then
> this is consider - public release, right?

I'm not 100% sure here, the GNU faq says:

But if you release the modified version to the public in some way, the GPL 
requires you to make the modified source code available to the program's users, 
under the GPL.

'the program's user' would then be the one you hand out the binary version?

Regards,
Marco

> Thanks for the clarification.
> 
> Noli
> 
> On 11/17/11, Jürgen E. <jef at norbit.de> wrote:
> > Hi Noli,
> > 
> > On Thu, 17. Nov 2011 at 19:32:47 +1100, Noli Sicad wrote:
> >> > GPL does not require to publish changes / plugins to everyone. E.g.
> >> > say you
> >> > create a plugin for a contractor, if you give them the binary and a
> >> > source
> >> > tarball, it's all fine with GPL, and there is no requirement for you
> >> > or the
> >> > contractor to publish the plugin to the public.
> >> 
> >> This is interesting take about GPL and QGIS plugins.
> >> 
> >> It means that the QGIS plugins is LGPL in this case.
> > 
> > Why?  The plugin is also GPL.
> > 
> >> If It is GPL, we the public can demand that QGIS plugin should be
> >> available publicly both the source and binary.
> > 
> > No.  Nobody is required to distribute at all.
> > 
> > But if it's done, the source code has to be shipped too.  So unless the
> > thing is
> > public, only the client who got the plugin from the developer has a right
> > to source.
> > 
> > But there's nothing restricting the client to disclose it - but also
> > nothing requiring him to do so.   If he does gives a binary to you, you
> > can demand the
> > source from him.
> > 
> > 
> > Jürgen
> > 
> > --
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> > +49-4931-918175-20 Dipl.-Inf. (FH)           Rheinstraße 13           
> > Fax. +49-4931-918175-50 Software Engineer         D-26506 Norden        
> >       http://www.norbit.de
> > 
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-- 
Dr. Marco Hugentobler
Sourcepole -  Linux & Open Source Solutions
Churerstrasse 22, CH-8808 Pfäffikon SZ, Switzerland
marco.hugentobler at sourcepole.ch http://www.sourcepole.ch
Technical Advisor QGIS Project Steering Committee