TRGBABitmap and commercial projects

[Mando]

Hello all:

Can I Use TRGBABitmap in commercial projects?



Regards.

[lainz]

It's LGPL with the extention that you can compile an executable (copingModifiedLGPL), so you don't need to put it in a dll to be usable for commercial.

As I understand if you modify the source you must show the changes and do those public.

[circular]

That's right Lainz.

@Mando:
If you just use the library in a program, mention it in the about box and where ever the program show the licence. For example something like : "This program is copyrighted by MyCompany and uses the library BGRABitmap which is modified LGPL." It would be appreciated that you give a link to BGRABitmap page on sourceforge.

If you improves significantly the library, the simplest is to send us the modification so we can add your changes to the last version (you could also provide the source to the public as LGPL by yourself).

If you're doing a small product, you can forget about other requirements. For a big project, there are other issues to discuss, and that are explained in the licence file.

[Mando]

Thanks

[lainz]

That's right Lainz.

@Mando:
If you just use the library in a program, mention it in the about box and where ever the program show the licence. For example something like : "This program is copyrighted by MyCompany and uses the library BGRABitmap which is modified LGPL." It would be appreciated that you give a link to BGRABitmap page on sourceforge.

If you improves significantly the library, the simplest is to send us the modification so we can add your changes to the last version (you could also provide the source to the public as LGPL by yourself).

If you're doing a small product, you can forget about other requirements. For a big project, there are other issues to discuss, and that are explained in the licence file.

Which things are for big projects? And who is a big project? something like http://gridplusplus.com/?

[circular]

Yes, I suppose Grid++ is a big project.

Well, I don't know if it's important, but there is also :

You may copy and distribute the Library (or a portion or
derivative of it, under Section 2) in object code or executable form
under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above provided that you accompany
it with the complete corresponding machine-readable source code, which
must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and 2 above on a
medium customarily used for software interchange.

  If distribution of object code is made by offering access to copy
from a designated place, then offering equivalent access to copy the
source code from the same place satisfies the requirement to
distribute the source code, even though third parties are not
compelled to copy the source along with the object code.

[lainz]

Basically if they link to bgrabitmap and bgracontrols download site is ok.

[circular]

Ok, so in fact, there is nothing more. Right ?

[lainz]

Another thing for example if I improve a lot LazPaint (new functions like button designer, effects, ..) and I change the name to 'LainzPaint'.. (I will not do this, is just a question), I can sell the program?

[FabienWang]

Technically, you can Lainz.

I recently learned that even GNU GPL programs can be sell (binaries with sources) but that once someone has acquired it, he has rights to publish it freely on the web.... ^^
Licence world is weird !

[circular]

Well I do not think you can do this, because LazPaint is GPL, so any derivative work should be GPL too.

[BigChimp]

Circular, I think FabienWang & Lainz are right.
Edit: see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney

Having a GPL license means you have to provide the source code. You can ask as much money for it as you wish.
However, the people receiving the program may give it away (as long as they also provide the source code).
This makes charging a lot for a binary problematic but not impossible.

In practice, vendors dealing in GPL software often sell support contracts (e.g. Red Hat), which has added value. Even then, people like CentOS are legally perfectly entitled to copy that work.

[lainz]

 

So I sell my first copy to circular (or someone other) and he can publish the binary and the source code.

The support matters =) Also in not open source but freeware like CCleaner the product is free for personal use, but you can aquire one with additional support and if you're a company you must buy it.

PD: btw I believe in open source I will not sell lazPaint or code that I can do to be usefull for LazPaint or BGRABitmap.