Hi On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 1:02 PM, Vincent Picavet <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Giovanni, > > Le lundi 26 mars 2012 12:45:39, G. Allegri a écrit : >> I had to create a python plugin to obatin some interactions with the ESRI >> ArcGIS Geoprocessing python framework. To do that, I need to import ESRI's >> libraries in my plugin, which are clearly not GLP'd :) >> Following a previous thread on this topic, I wonder if it's legal from the >> side of QGis (obviously it is ok from the ArcGIS's side having a licence >> for it). > > From my point of view, after researches about this specific issue, you can't > legally : > http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/19646/issues-with-osgeo-qgis-core-and- > arcpy-modules/19661#19661 > > GPL is a copyleft licence, therefore «contamining» other libraries. All > software piece which is linked to a GPL library must have a licence compatible > with GPL. > An python «import» is considered as a link. > > I would advise you to change your software to adopt a loose coupling strategy > between the qgis part and the esri part, either through web services, data > exchange over a file or a database or something else not considered as a link > in the GPL sense. > > I personnaly consider that libraries should not be under a GPL licence but a > LGPL one, which keeps the opensource aspect while facilitating mixing with > other softwares. GPL is fine with end user software built on top of LGPL libs. > That said, it would require to relicence all qgis source code as LGPL with all > contributors agreeing to the change.
I don't think this will happen soon both for logistical reasons and philosophical - many of us who have contributed code to the project would object to the license switch. Regards Tim > And this is only my personal view, I do not want to start a licence troll > thread. > > Vincent > _______________________________________________ > Qgis-developer mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer -- Tim Sutton - QGIS Project Steering Committee Member (Release Manager) ============================================== Please do not email me off-list with technical support questions. Using the lists will gain more exposure for your issues and the knowledge surrounding your issue will be shared with all. Visit http://linfiniti.com to find out about: * QGIS programming and support services * Mapserver and PostGIS based hosting plans * FOSS Consulting Services Skype: timlinux Irc: timlinux on #qgis at freenode.net ============================================== _______________________________________________ Qgis-developer mailing list [email protected] http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-developer
