Andrew Friedl wrote:
> I'm looking to write a major application and I was thinking of
> using Rhino for the purpose of scripting it. The application is to
> be a high dollar application and I am worried about using
> Netscape's code.
By "high dollar application" I presume you mean you want to combine the
Rhino code with your own proprietary code to create a traditional
proprietary software package.
Since you're posting to netscape.public.mozilla.license newsgroup, by
"worried about using Netscape's code" I presume you mean you are
concerned about licensing issues in using the Rhino code in a
proprietary application.
Well, first I suggest you consult an attorney with experience in
copyright and related "intellectual property" law who has experience
with software licensing. If your application is potentially lucrative
then I think the investment in attorney's fees would be well worth it. I
am not a lawyer and therefore cannot provide you with legal advice, so
what follows are just my personal opinions, nothing more.
The Rhino code is licensed under a "dual license" scheme which allows
use under either the terms and conditions of the Netscape Public License
or the terms and conditions of the GNU GPL. If you use the Rhino code
under the terms of the NPL then you should be able to combine the code
with your proprietary code and distribute it under a proprietary
license; the NPL is designed to let you do this. You can distribute your
own code under whatever license you want as long as it is in separate
source files from the Rhino code.
Note that you do have certain obligations to notify your customers that
source code is available for the Rhino portion of your applications.
I've commented in a previous message about how I might go about
satisfying that obligation if I were in that situation:
news://news.mozilla.org/3AAD32B5.5C37DE12%40collab.net
(That message referred to the JavaScript Spidermonkey engine and NSPR,
but it should also be applicable to Rhino since the licensing is
similar.)
Frank
--
Frank Hecker work: http://www.collab.net/
[EMAIL PROTECTED] home: http://www.hecker.org/
