[fpc-devel] LGPL vs BSD

[Jonas Maebe]

On 4 aug 2006, at 10:04, Graeme Geldenhuys wrote:

> The point below relates to a library created in each license.
>
> So to recap LGPL:
> * The LGPL allows you to create a library, which you can use in a
> commercial app or a free app.
> * If you statically link to that library (compile in into your
> executable), the whole application source must be available on
> request, even commercial apps.  (this will be a major issue for me!)

No, it does not have to be available. As I said:

>> This means that you have to
>> either provide the source of your program, link dynamically to the
>> library (most common case), or in case of static linking make all
>> compiled object files of your application available.

Note the "either". Only the full source of the library must be made  
available on request.

> * Any changes made to the library must be available on request.

This is implicit because of the fact that the source of the library  
must be available on request. Note that you are only obliged to  
provide these library sources to people who have legitimate access to  
the application in question, i.e. those who bought it or otherwise  
obtained a valid license from you to use the application (although  
you are free to make them publicly available to everyone, of course).

> To recap BSD:
> * You can use the library in commercial and free apps.
> * You can link statically or dynamically to the library without
> releasing your commercial code.
> * You do not need to release any code changes made to the library.

Correct.

> Regarding the credits to authors.  Wasn't there a change in the BSD
> license (revision 2 or something) where giving credit is not required
> anymore. Example you can create a commercial app (Mac OS 10 comes to
> mind) and don't need to mention any credits in you app.

There is a document /Library/Documentation/Acknowledgements.rtf which  
credits every single bit of open source code used in Mac OS X.

The Modified BSD license can be found at (see in particular point 2).
   http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php

What was left out was the "advertising clause", which said:

"     * 3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of  
this software
       *    must display the following acknowledgement:
       *    This product includes software developed by the  
University of
       *    California, Berkeley and its contributors."

You still have to credit people whose source you use in your source  
code and documentation.


Jonas