GNU GPL LICENSE

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Hello,
I am developing an android application.
In this application I use a libary (jar) that I downloaded from the internet. This jar is open source under the "GNU General Public License v2". I tried to read this license on the offical site of GPL license, but I understood nothing.

My question is this: Can I use this libary in a Commercial software as I want to sell my application?

I don't want to convert my application to open source.

Thanks!

Beno

Posted 16-Jan-11 4:26am

benodiz112

Updated 16-Jan-11 6:44am

Manfred Rudolf Bihy

v4

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2 solutions

Solution 1

In essence no, you can't.

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySystem[^]

A quote :
"A system incorporating a GPL-covered program is an extended version of that program. The GPL says that any extended version of the program must be released under the GPL if it is released at all"

And if it must be released under GPL, you must distribute the source code.

Read that link carefully, if you can make it so that the libraries you use are seperate from your own code, you can use them.

Addition :

"However, in many cases you can distribute the GPL-covered software alongside your proprietary system. To do this validly, you must make sure that the free and non-free programs communicate at arms length, that they are not combined in a way that would make them effectively a single program.

The difference between this and “incorporating” the GPL-covered software is partly a matter of substance and partly form. The substantive part is this: if the two programs are combined so that they become effectively two parts of one program, then you can't treat them as two separate programs."

The example they give is a compiler and a kernel. These are programs that are not linked in any way. You write a proprietary comipiler for a GPL kernel. You may distribute the kernel with your compiler.

Cheers

Posted 16-Jan-11 4:41am

Estys

Updated 16-Jan-11 5:07am

v3

Comments

benodiz112 16-Jan-11 11:23am

Thanks for the quick answer,
what that mean:"if you can make it so that the libraries you use are seperate from your own code, you can use them".

I think that the libary is seperate from my code, this close jar I don't changed the source code I just use the jar: send input and get output.
this mean that the libary is seperate from my app?

thanks again!

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OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-16T05:50:00

"Thanks for the quick answer,
what that mean:"if you can make it so that the libraries you use are seperate from your own code, you can use them".
I think that the libary is seperate from my code, this close jar I don't changed the source code I just use the jar: send input and get output.
this mean that the libary is seperate from my app?
thanks again! - benodiz112 19 mins ago"

To add to what Estys said:

If your code calls the library, then the library is not separate from your code, because your code will not operate without the library present.

In other words: If you use anything which is covered by GPL, then your entire code is covered by GPL and must be released.

There are companies who have been forced to do just that; there are people who investigate possible breaches and initiate legal action against companies that ignore GPL licensing conditions.

"Ok I understand that issue, how can I publish my code , this enough if I put the code on web Site that belongs to me?
Or I need to do something else (Publish the code on Google open source site) - benodiz112 48 secs ago"

Under the terms (see section 6(d) for the legalese) of the GPL, you can post the source code on a publicly available website, but you must provide a link to that source code with your application. The link must be accessible, not encrypted, obfuscated, or otherwise hidden.
The best thing to do is probably to stick it up on your website, in a read-only directory and link directly to it from your "help...about" dialog.