What is the difference between gpl and lgpl in terms of. If you modify the software, you still have to give back the source code, but you are allowed to link it with proprietary stuff without giving the source code to all of that back. Differences between gpl and lgpl when using licensed software. If you modify the software, you still have to give. The gpl licenses gplv3, gplv2, lgpl, affero gpl all contain some.
If you have some code you are thinking of releasing. Despite not having the stick of the gpl, mitstyle license resulted in a better ability to tinker with the code, expand it to more areas, and improve software. Gpl lgpl gpl gpl, lgpl both are created by the gnu project the gpl and lgpl prohibit covered software and all derivative work from having its source code hidden from the public. Gnu gpl, lgpl, apache licence types and differences. The free software foundation considers the apache license, version 2. The following answer is based on general knowledge of the gpl and lgpl and the lgpl text as found here. If you have some code you are thinking of releasing under an open source license, and you want a quick overview of the broadstrokes differences between these licenses, you have come to the right place. Most surveys indicate that the vast majority of open source projects use the mit license, the apache license, and the gpl or their variants. In contrast to lgpl, gpl requires that you provide the code for all changes made to the software.
The mozilla public license mpl is a free and open source software license developed and maintained by the mozilla foundation. Fluendo includes ffmpeg libraries licensed under lgpl. Mit applies to the documentation associated with the software, bsd doesnt. It would be great if duallicense it under apache license or mit. Well, this assumes that you are either selfemployed, or not employed under a contract such that your company owns your code. What is the difference between gpl, agpl and lgpl licenses. As a permissive license, it puts only very limited restriction on reuse and has, therefore, high license compatibility. Revised versions of the gnu lesser general public license. To understand the difference between gpl and lgpl you have to understand the basic idea of open source software. Gary is correct there are no differences with respect to ownership. In such case, this license incorporates the limitation as if written in the body of this license. However as its a dependency you need to offer the sourcecode of it if you distribute your software. The gnulgpl is very popular among independent developers and companies which mainly deals with open source software.
It is a weak copyleft license, characterized as a middle ground between. Originally lgpl was read out as library 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. This license is a set of additional permissions added to version 3 of the gnu general public license. So, for instance, the mit license grants users the right to deal in. If youre looking for a reference table of every license on, see the appendix. The tlo will discuss open source licensing strategies with the authors. Oct 02, 2016 gnu lgpl vs gpl lsoftware icensing short transcript. The main argument for mit or any other permissive license over gpl is that more people may end up using your software. The mit license is a permissive free software license originating at the massachusetts institute of technology mit in the late 1980s. The difference between the gpl and the lgpl is that with the lgpl, the entire work doesnt have to have the same license. Gnu lesser general public license version 3 open source. Software and open source licensing mit technology licensing.
I dont see gpl as a crucial aspect for getting to that world where we have access to the important bits. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the library general public license from time to time. Various licenses and comments about them gnu project free. The lgpl allows to be used from nonfree software while mit is even free software, so being a dependency is not a blocker. Why corporations favors the apache license over the gpllgpl. Lgpl is infectuous, which means if you use it, you risk having to lgpl your own work too. Jsxgraph is free software dual licensed under the gnu.
Asfs objective is to provide legal protection to volunteers working on the apache project and to protect the apache brand name from being used by. Oracle elects to use only the gnu lesser general public license version 2. Open source licenses explained which one to use apache. Qt contains some code that is not provided under the gnu lesser general public license lgpl or the qt commercial license, but rather under specific licenses from the original authors the qt company. May 26, 2014 when and wherever possible, however, i will always use the mit license for my code and will only use a gpl license if given no other option. If you want your software to be bundled separately and never as closely integrated with whatever package is using it, use the lgpl. For more information about how to release your own software under this license, please see our page of instructions. Gnu affero general public license, version 3 spot the differences due to the helpful visualizations at a glance category. The software freedom law center provides practical advice for developers about including permissively licensed source. Like the bsd license, the mit license does not include an express patent license. Support to any codecs using gpl licensed software was disabled, so it can be used. The gnu lesser general public license lgpl is a free software license published by the free software foundation fsf. The boilerplate can be found at the end of the gnu gplv3. Lesser general public license is sometimes referred to as library gpl or gnu libraries, and some associate it with the idea of.
The apache license, on the other hand, is favored by the big corporations for. We generally recommend the latest version of the lgpl, for special circumstances only. Their interpretation depends on the technical usage of the licensed software. What are the essential differences between the bsd and mit. Sidebyside comparison of gnu lesser general public license, version 3 vs. Differences in distribution, linking, modification, private use of open source licenses like mit, gnu gpl, apache 2. Among the two gpl is the basis of open source software for programmers. Lgpl license is incompatible with apache license issue. Another difference between the bsd licenses and the mit license is how they deal with the meaning of software. Free software license provider mit license, apache license 2019 apache license the apache software foundation asf i s a nonprofit corporation to support apache software. The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component 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. These projects will hopefully be licensed if you havent got a license on your. In mit license, the word software with a capital s is explicitly defined as being this software and associated documentation files. Difference between different types of open sources licenses.
The lgpled software is a dependency of your software. The lgpl is similar to the gpl, but is more designed for software libraries where you want to allow nongpl applications to link to your library and utilise it. It is a weak copyleft license, characterized as a middle ground between permissive free software licenses and the gnu general public license gpl, that seeks to balance the concerns of proprietary and open source developers. While the project website is not that clear, the readme on github is much clearer. Jun 15, 2019 in this video, i will explain what are open source licenses and which one to use. Of these licenses, the apache license is seen pretty infrequently outside of apache software foundation software. The lgpl offers more benefits to the software creator, whereas the mit offers more benefits to the software user. Even if all of the downstream userdevelopers dont opensource their contributions, many of them will. The following licenses are sorted by the number of conditions, from most gnu agplv3 to none unlicense. Apr 07, 2017 differences in distribution, linking, modification, private use of open source licenses like mit, gnu gpl, apache 2.
It has now been reinterpreted to be read out as the lesser general public license. 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. Both the bsd and the mit licenses were drafted before the patentability of software was generally. The differences between the gpl, lgpl and the bsd fosswire. In this video, i will explain what are open source licenses and which one to use. The lgpl ed software is a dependency of your software. Here are the top open source licenses and their risk categories. What is foss licensesapache, bsd, gpl, lgpl explained. Including the mit licensed code can be encrypted, as long as it carries the mit license notice. May 31, 2012 the licenses seen most often are the following. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the gnu lesser general public license from time to time. Notice that the popular licenses featured on the home page gnu gplv3 and mit fall. 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. Secondly, any code you see on this site, my github account, or receive from me in any way is, unless otherwise explicitly stated, distributed under the terms of the mit license above.
Once the tlo has approved release of the software via an open source license, you may then post or distribute your software under such open source license. Generally, mit recommends either the bsd license or the gplv2 or lgplv2 licenses. In contrast to lgpl, gpl requires that you provide the code for. Gpl is a copyleft license so it requires derivative works to be released under the same license and programs linked with a library released under the gpl must also be released under the gpl. Im not sure a how to do this, and b if i am allowed to license it under any other license than lgpl without breaking the rules of lgpl. Jun 25, 2019 the difference between the gpl and the lgpl is that with the lgpl, the entire work doesnt have to have the same license. The apache license, on the other hand, is favored by the big corporations for their open source projects. Its also arguable whether the licenses mentioned other than apache have an implicit patent grant.
The lgpl and gpl licenses differ with one major exception. 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. Various licenses and comments about them gnu project. The difference with mit is that even if you actually distribute your proprietary code that is using the mit licensed code, you do not have to make the code open source. 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. Free software license provider mit license, apache license 2019 apache license the apache software foundation asf i s a nonprofit corporation to support apache software projects. Despite not having the stick of the gpl, mit style license resulted in a better ability to tinker with the code, expand it to more areas, and improve software. What is foss licensesapache, bsd, gpl, lgpl explained techcode. Notice that the popular licenses featured on the home page gnu gplv3 and mit fall within this spectrum. Mit vs gpl license closed ask question asked 9 years. Gpl is basically the legal terminology that makes open source software what it is. Tldrlegal software licenses explained in plain english. The gnu lgpl is very popular among independent developers and companies which mainly deals with open source software.
You can distribute it as a closed app where the code is encrypted or is a binary. The free software foundation recommends taking the additional step of adding a boilerplate notice to the top of each file. In this article, we take a look at the difference between this two licenses to find out why. Since you have access to the codes through open source software, you are permitted to make changes, improve it, and create your own twist. For other matter, lgpl is less intrusive for the whole project. The free software foundation may publish revised andor new versions of the library general public license. I assume they mean lesser as in less strong in forcing. Some other free software foundation software is covered by the gnu library general public license instead.
Such new versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to address new problems or concerns. Gpl is free software as well as mit is, both licenses do not restrict you to bring together the code where as include is always twoway. The gpl, lgpl, and mozilla licenses understanding open. If you want people to happily bundle your software with their software, choose the mit license. If you want people to happily bundle your software with their software, choose the mit. 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. Implication of lgpl and mit licenses for commercial use of. 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. The software freedom law center provides practical advice for.
308 735 867 958 1587 985 1031 1502 1407 1046 776 1076 1424 603 1213 1389 711 351 1294 645 901 198 1288 805 899 1325 540 72 4 62