Subj : Re: GPL and using many licences To : comp.programming From : mschaef Date : Fri Sep 30 2005 09:26 am In article <1f54niphm1ig8$.dlg@piotr-wlodarek.pl>, Piotr 'Qertoip' Włodarek wrote: > >I want to use library licensed under GPL. Therefore I have to publish my >source code under GPL as well. > >May I, in addition, publish my source code under other license, i.e. MIT? > >Of course I've got GPL license text, but I want to know your opinion, since >there are many misuderstoods in this subject. As long as you own the copyright to all of the code, you can release it however you like. Trolltech does this with QT: http://www.trolltech.com/products/qt/licensing.html However, if you let other people submit code to your open source project, you do not initially own the copyright, they do. They get to set terms on the code they write, just as you get to set terms on the code you write. Consequently, they get to object to your selling their code as part of your closed source version. Or, they could demand a fee, or whatever... The FSF is strict about obtaining copyright assignments from contributors to their projects. Part of the reason is: "That way we can be sure that all the code in FSF projects is free code, whose freedom we can most effectively protect, and therefore on which other developers can completely rely." -- http://www.gnu.org/licenses/why-assign.html -Mike -- http://www.mschaef.com .