Hi, Some more precision. > Let's say ShapeLib is published under GPL (I don't know > whether or not it is; this is only for illustration purpose). > Let's say, MapServer utilizes ShapeLib, but doesn't modify > ShapeLib, but uses ShapeLib as is. Let's say, MapServer's > creator decides to make millions off of MapServer, Inc. He is > under no obligation to release the source code of MapServer, > but he is obligated to release the source code of ShapeLib, > which is no big deal, because the source code of ShapeLib is > already available to anyone. > On the other hand, let's say, ShapeLib is modified to perform > better, or differently, for MapServer. Now, there is an > obligation to release the source code to the modified version > of ShapeLib no matter what the value of that value-added > might be. That is what the GPL obligates. > MapServer itself is still governed by whatever license that > its creator decides to apply.
It depends what you call <utilizes>. If Mapserver links with the ShapeLib library, the latter being under GPL licence, then its source code has to be released. This is the <contaminating> part of GPL. The situation you describe is true if ShapeLib is under LGPL. If it is under GPL, everything linked to it must be under a GPL-compliant licence. As Daniel says, GPL code can not be embedded in or linked to a closed source application. Period. Please also note that the GPL licence does not prevent any commercial usage of the software. Hopes this helps to clarify things. Vincent > > > > Also take into consideration development platform/language. > > My group (MapWindow project) has a number of people using > our GIS SDK > > for commercial applications in the .NET platform. MapWindow is > > licensed under MPL 1.1 which supports commercial usage. > > Dan > > > > On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 7:07 AM, Nenad Milasinovic > > <nenad.milasino...@zesium.com> wrote: > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> I am interested is there any reliable open source, LGPL > licensed GIS > >> SDK or library suited for building commercial, platform > independent > >> GIS application on top of it. > >> I am also interested for commercial solutions but only as > SDK or library. > >> I will appreciate any help. > >> > >> Best regards. > >> > >> -- > >> Nenad Milasinovic > >> Software Development and Testing > >> > >> --- > >> > >> "ZESIUM mobile" d.o.o. > >> Valentina Vodnika 8/9 > >> 21000 Novi Sad > >> Serbia > >> Tel: +381 (0)21 472 15 48 > >> Fax: +381 (0)21 472 15 49 > >> Mob: +381 (0)61 231 41 20 > >> E-mail: nenad.milasino...@zesium.com > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Discuss mailing list > >> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > >> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Discuss mailing list > > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > > > > > > > > -- > Puneet Kishor http://www.punkish.org/ > Carbon Model http://carbonmodel.org/ > Charter Member, Open Source Geospatial Foundation > http://www.osgeo.org/ Science Commons Fellow, Geospatial Data > http://sciencecommons.org Nelson Institute, UW-Madison > http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/ > -------------------------------------------------------------- > --------- > collaborate, communicate, compete > ============================================================== > ========= > Sent from Madison, WI, United States > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss > _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss