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Tech Junkie Lounge / Re: Open Source Licenses
« on: March 09, 2008, 09:37:51 AM »
If I make my own, 100% original work I can attach any license to it I want, but that's only if i use 100% original work. Once I inject some GPL source I loose all my personal rights to release it how I want.
As I understand it, the GPL applies to the code published under the GPL. As a component module of your own code, only the GPL portion needs to be made available, for example a JPG library used in your own JPG viewer program with interface code written by you. The GPL would apply to any modifications you make to the original work that was published under the GPL.
On the other hand, if you modify a GPL program but it remains substantially what it was before your modifications, it's a derivative work and must be published under the GPL. Taking GPL code, you must acknowlege the original authors and you cannot copyright the derivative work because using the GPL code means you accepted their terms that you cannot copyright it as your own work except for the portion that is your own and then you must publish your changes under the terms of the GPL.
If your project is substantially your own and closed-source, using unmodified support modules that were GPL, you don't have to publish your closed source but you do have to provide the GPL source of the GPL modules upon request. This might help someone reverse your private code.
Of course, we have to discern between GPL 1, GPL2 and GPL3. I believe GPL3 is one of the knottiest (nuttiest) licenses around.
QW