[Qgis-developer] Directions needed for GSOC Proposal

[Vincent Picavet]

Hi,
Well, this is not an easy topic, but everything is answered in the GNU FAQ on 
licences :
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html
To shorten a bit and in relation to what has been said before.

There is an exception to the GPL licence for system libraries. It does not 
apply here, as we are talking about application software.

Generally, you can link to a non-free library from a GPL code if  you deliver 
your GPL code with a specific exception for that non-free library. That means 
you have to be able to choose the licence for your code, Therefore you have to 
be the code author AND you have to be free to choose the licence. 

If your code is already part of a GPL program (say QGIS), you have to 
redistribute your code under the same GPL licence, and you cannot add such an 
exception, therefore you cannot link to this non-free library.

Of course in any (legally possible) case you want to be sure you have all the 
needed rights on the non-free library side.

Keep in mind that a Python «import» is considered being a library link, and 
please do read the aforementionned FAQ, it contains all the necessary elements 
for you to fully understand the (difficult) matter.

Vincent




Le lundi 26 mars 2012 16:16:57, G. Allegri a écrit :
> I would really appreciate if you could explain me this point, seriously.
> 
> giovanni
> 
> 2012/3/26 G. Allegri <giohappy at gmail.com>
> 
> > I apologize for my ignorance, could you explain me the differences?
> > You say that I cannot do an import in python to load ArcGIS code, but
> > here you say that I can import/link proprietary code in GPL code.I see a
> > contradiction here.
> > I apologize again if I cannot get to the point...
> > 
> > giovanni
> > 
> > 
> > 2012/3/26 Paolo Cavallini <cavallini at faunalia.it>
> > 
> >> Il 26/03/2012 15:08, G. Allegri ha scritto:
> >> > Have I misunderstood it?
> >> 
> >> yes
> >> --
> >> Paolo Cavallini - Faunalia
> >> www.faunalia.eu
> >> Full contact details at www.faunalia.eu/pc