Forum > Third party
library license usable in non open source apps
calm_sea:
Hello to everybody. I always have doubts with the licenses of the Lazarus add-on components. Which libraries (i.e. with which kind of license) can be used in a non-open source application?
dbannon:
There are very many "out of the box" licenses and people often add exceptions to even them. So, even if someone here was willing to summarize the license situation, it would not be very useful.
So, I am afraid its a case of reading the license text. Most are written to be read by people without a law degree.
Do avoid using components / libraries etc that do not have any license, it can lead to all sorts of problems. And do be wary of things with bespoke license, a DIY one. While the author may be a great programmer, they are probably not a good license writer.
Davo
calm_sea:
but the most famous standard licenses (GNU, MIT, etc.) can be used?
dbannon:
MIT ? generally very unrestricted, I use the BSD, its similar but requires retention of author name.
GNU - which one ? There are several versions and generally they do require making derivative works to also be open source. There are exceptions including ones that allow, for example, LCL code to be used in close source products.
Sorry, you really must read the license of any external components, its really not that hard.
Davo
MarkMLl:
--- Quote from: calm_sea on October 21, 2021, 11:42:22 am ---but the most famous standard licenses (GNU, MIT, etc.) can be used?
--- End quote ---
/Which/ GNU license: GPL, LGPL etc.?
The bottom line is that you read the documentation that comes with a particular library (or component, and/or associated documentation) carefully, and if you and your employers and their legal advisors are in any doubt whatsoever do not even consult the sourcecode as a convenient implementation example.
It is by now fairly well established that by making use of software governed by e.g. the GPL you are agreeing to the terms specified by the original authors. It is most unwise to simply say "I'm going to use this and assume nobody will check", particularly now that doing so might attract the ire of companies the size of IBM and HPE.
MarkMLl
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