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

[Camilo Polymeris]

> It would be any user getting their hands on this binary. If your client
> gives a copy to his friend then his friend has the right to the source (it
> doesn't mean that YOU have to the one sending the source).

I understand it *does* mean that you have to be the one sending the
source. If you distribute a GPL'd binary without source you have to
include a written offer to send the source to any party that receives
that binary, even indirectly. In general it should be easier to
include the source in the first place

This applies to LGPL'd code, too, of course. If you modify the code
itself, that is, and not merely link to it.

What I am not completely sure is if, besides the users (receivers of
modified binaries), the original copyright holders may have a right to
the modified sources, even if they haven't received a binary. Say,
programmer makes modified version of QGIS for a company, and sends it
only to them. The company has a right to the modified sources. Do the
original QGIS devs have that right, too? (if they knew there was a
modified version of the source floating around -- that would often be
kept behind closed doors, I guess)

Interesting discussion, btw. There is no code of mine involved, so I
don't really have a say in this, but if I were you, I would keep
everything GPL. At very most, the core libraries could be LGPL'd, to
make it easier to interface them to proprietary applications, while
keeping the higher level stuff (GUI, and such) GPL.

Regards,

Camilo