That does not mean the new library must be all lgpl software, just that you comply with the lgpl license terms to be able to distribute the lgpl. A lesser general public license is used to license free software so that it can be incorporated into both free software and proprietary software, and is often referred to as the weaker sibling of gpl. Its a software license published by the free software foundation if opensource software is licensed under the lgpl, other software developers may use it for their software development projects even if their projects are closedsource or otherwise. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license published by the free software foundation fsf. This library general public license is intended to permit developers of nonfree programs to use free libraries, while preserving your freedom as a user of such programs to change the free libraries that are incorporated in them. If opensource software is licensed under the lgpl, other software. When a program is linked with a library, whether statically or using a shared library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a combined work.
The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a widely uised free saftware license, which guarantees end uisers the freedom tae run, study, share an modify the saftware. Then tell the publisher or holder of the specific gplcovered program. The gnu general public license gnu gpl or gpl is a series of widely used free software licenses that guarantee end users the freedom to run, study, share, and modify the software. What is the difference between gpl, agpl and lgpl licenses.
To understand what opensource software means to you, it makes sense to understand why opensource. A practical guide to gpl compliance software freedom law. This license agreement applies to any software library or other program which contains a notice placed by the holder or other authorized party saying it may be distributed under the terms of this lesser general public license also. Differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. Revised versions of the gnu lesser general public license. Lgplv2 2a states that if a licensed work is a software library defined in. For the purposes of being included in an apache software foundation product, the following licenses are considered to be similar in terms to the apache license 2. It is similar to the gnu general public license and is also an open source license. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the gnu lesser general public license from time to time. Primarily used for software libraries, the gnu lgpl requires that derived works be licensed under the same license, but works that only link to it do not fall under this restriction. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license created by the free software foundation.
Other portions of the project are permitted have other licenses. What is the difference between gpl and lgpl in terms of. In summary the lgpl states that any nonderivative work can be released under any terms or licenses. I suspect that because lgpl allows making the source code of the library that you linked to available via a download, it must be ok to use an lgpl licensed lib in your app for microsofts marketplace. We use this license for certain libraries in order to permit linking those libraries into nonfree programs. Can i use an lgpllicenced library in my commercial app. Gnu general public license gpl gnu lesser general public license lgpl gnu affero general public license agpl gnu free documentation license fdl answers to common questions. A copy of that license is included in this document on page x. The freelibre open source software floss license slide. Basically that means releasing software that simply uses.
The most widespread use of gpl is in reference to the gnu gpl, which is commonly abbreviated simply as gpl when it is understood that the term refers. Computer dictionary definition of what lgpl means, including related. The lesser general public license is sometimes described as a weak copyleft license, because code licensed under lgpls terms can be combined with code under nonfree licenses, and is. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is the most popular weakly protective license, and has a version 2. A lesser general public license lgpl is a license for opensource software that allows for provisions for including elements of free software in either free or. A software license is a document that provides legally binding guidelines for the use and distribution of software.
Gpl compatible yes if software licensed under the license can be combined with software licensed under the gnu general public license, no if not. Sony mobile offers to provide source code of software licensed under the gpl or lgpl or some other open source licenses allowing source code distribution to you on a cdrom for a charge covering. The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate software released under the lgpl into their own even proprietary software without being required by the terms of a strong copyleft license to release the source code of their own components. This prevents the code from being used in proprietary software.
If you have a particular question about a free software license, theres a good chance youll find an answer on one of the pages below. It contains all the qt apis and the qt creator ide for seamless crossplatform development qt for application development is dual licensed under commercial and open source licenses. For example, if you distribute copies of the library, whether gratis or for a fee, you. Lesser general public license is sometimes referred to as library gpl or gnu libraries, and some associate it with the idea of. Primarily used for software libraries, the gnu lgpl requires that derived. The licenses were originally written by richard stallman, former head of the free software foundation fsf, for the gnu project, and grant the recipients of a computer program the rights of the free software. A lesser general public license lgpl is a license for opensource software that allows for provisions for including elements of free software in either free or proprietary software. The software included in this product contains ed software that is licensed under the gpl.
The restrictions of including unedited lgpl software in your product are fairly simple and can be somewhat oversimplistically summarized as. However be aware that if you or the company ever make changes to the software and want to distribute it, it must be distributed with full source code, on the same license terms as the original software. When, for example, the software was only for internal use in the company, then. Lgpl allows you to use and distribute the open source software with your application without releasing the source code for your application. Qt for application development lets you create applications for desktop and mobile platforms. If a licensed software can link to b licensed software, this does not imply that linking in the reverse direction is allowed.
In a nutshell, the idea of lgpld projects usually libraries is that you are free to use them as you wish in your own application, be it open or closed source, free or proprietary as long as you publish the source code of the lgpld part if you modify the lgpld part, you must publish the modified sources, under lgpl additionally, the libraries must be linked dynamically so that they. Difference between different types of open sources licenses. Gpl, also known as copyleft, grants permission to reuse or modify the source code to make derivative works, but if you distribute your program to others, it requires you to license your derivative work under the gpl too. The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component released under the lgpl into their.
I am making contributions to a certain project which is released under lgpl and also under a commercial license according to the terms of contribution in the project by doing so i am transferring all my rights and ownership of the code to the company which owns said project. This license, the gnu lesser general public license, applies to certain designated libraries, and is quite different from the ordinary general public license. You can use it too, but we suggest you first think carefully about whether this license or the ordinary general public license is the better. The corresponding application code for a combined work means the object code andor source code for the application, including any data and utility programs. Gary is correct there are no differences with respect to ownership. Bruce perens is the creator of the open source definition, the manifesto of open source and the criterion for open source software licensing. Short for lesser general public license, the license that accompanies some open source software that details how the software and its accompany source code.
Its generally appropriate for libraries and projects that want to allow linking from nongpl and nonopensource. This license, the lesser general public license, applies to some specially designated software packagestypically librariesof the free software foundation and other authors who decide to use it. This license refers to version 3 of the gnu general public license. Well, this assumes that you are either selfemployed, or not employed under a contract such that your company owns your code. The commercial qt license gives you the full rights to create and distribute software on your own terms without any. The gnu lesser general public license gnu lgpl was designed as a solution for such situations. Other developers can borrow and modify the code and redistribute it as part of their own project, provided that the portion used under the lgpl is re licensed under the lgpl.
Gnu library general public license, version 2 spdx short identifier. Lgpl software your api would be considered a derivative work and the new library would then be subject to the same compliance terms as the original software. The gnu licenses make no distinction between static and dynamic linking insofar as the definition of a derived work, as applied to compiled software, is concerned. The license wis oreeginally written bi richard stallman o the free software foundation fsf for the gnu project, an grants the recipients o a computer program the richts o the free software definition. Gnu lesser general public license free definitions by babylon. There are three versions of the license commonly known as the lgpl. Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. The lgpl and gpl licenses differ with one major exception. Its mostly used for library software meaning parts of other software, with the license name formerly meaning library general public license. Its a software license published by the free software foundation if opensource software is licensed under the lgpl, other software developers may use it for their software development projects even if their projects are closedsource or. Fluendo includes ffmpeg libraries licensed under lgpl. The gnu lesser general public license, also known as the lgpl, is a more permissive version of the gpl the gnu general public license.
Gpl and lgpl open source licensing restrictions stack. The gnu lesser general public license gnu lgpl was designed as a solution. Short for general public license, the license that accompanies some open source software that details how the software and its accompany source code can be freely copied, distributed and modified. Can gpl licenced software be used in corporate environments.