> For KDE it depends on the type of component.
> All things that are part of the platform are LGPL, BSD or MIT licensed,
> only
> end user applications are often GPL licensed.
>
> See http://techbase.kde.org/Policies/Licensing_Policy
>
> Basic rule of thumb: anything a developer might use -> LGPL, anything only
> a
> user would use -> GPL
>
Thanks, Levin for giving me clear explanation. But as far as I am aware as
KDE user, some important parts of KDE still under GPL, such as KWin and
Dolphin File Manager. Those are might be end user applications but
sometimes developer needs to improve them with their specific needs without
affected with GPL.
You probably already know if the current trend of free software seems to
move away from a very radical copyleft license for more relaxed license.
WebKit and GoogleChrome which are basically derived from KHTML and Android
OS with the Linux kernel as its core is a small example to prove that
non-copyleft license helps the wider acceptance of free software. Non-GPL
software will attract more developers to collaborate together, ranging from
individual contributors to large-scale corporations for the benefit of
each. Sometimes an individual's involvement is not enough to manage
large-scale free software projects, so the involvement of large companies
are sometimes required. This is where the LGPL serves as a compromise
between the interests of free software activists with a corporate interests.
Free software movement is still relevant today, but stay away from
proprietary is something that is impossible in this era.
Linux Torvlads said
"*I use the best tool for the job, even if that includes proprietary
software.*"
Clement Lefebvre (Linux Mint Founder) also said:
"*Freedom should be granted to the developer to decide whether he wants to
distribute his source code or not. I don't see why he wouldn't (unless he's
not familiar with open source and maybe scared of not generating profit...
I don't know) but the thing is, this is his choice. Similarly it's your
choice and your freedom to use his software or not. Having some political
movement telling you to restrict your own choice and boycotting good and
helpful software just because you didn't get the source code with it is
simply going against your own freedom.*"
After all, I didn't want to start license debate. I just want to share my
opinion that might useful for LXDE-Qt contributors to consider.
--
Best regards,
Ryan Bram
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