Can I use GPL software in a commercial application

Posted by Petah on Programmers See other posts from Programmers or by Petah
Published on 2011-02-12T11:53:45Z Indexed on 2011/02/12 15:32 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 312

Filed under:

gpl

I have 3 questions about the GPL here:

If I use GPL software in my application, but don't modify or distribute it, do I have to release my application under the GPL?
What if I modify some software that my application uses. Then do I have to release my application under the GPL, or can I just supply the modified software under the GPLs terms.
And what if I use GPL software, but don't modify it, can I distribute it with my application?

My case in point is, I have a PHP framework which I use the GeSHi library to highlight some output.

Because GeSHi is GPL, does my framework have to be GPL?
Can I modify GeSHi for particular use cases of my application if I supply the modifications back to the GeSHi maintainers?
Can I redistribute my framework with GeSHi?

Related posts about gpl

GPL code allowing non-GPL local copies of nondistributed code

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I have come across a book that claims that alterations and augmentations to GPL works can be kept close-source as long as these are not redistributed into the wild. Therefore, customizations of websites deriving from GPL packages need not be released under the GPL and developers can earn profit on… >>> More
Licensing software that uses GPL code with licenses other than GPL

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Let's say I write some code, which we'll call X. It uses some GPL code, let's call it library Y. Clearly I would have to release X with a GPL license. That's fine. My question is, can I additionally release X under a license such as MIT, so that if someone only wants X but not Y they don't need to… >>> More
Does using GCC specific builtins qualify as incorporation within a project?

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I understand that linking to a program licensed under the GPL requires that you release the source of your program under the GPL as well, while the LGPL does not require this. The terminology of the (L)GPL is very clear about this. #include "gpl_program.h" means you'd have to license GPL, because… >>> More
"Integratable" but not "integrated" GPL

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
There has been much debate over whether or not merely linking to a piece of code makes it a derivative work. I know FSF says "yes", so according to them I can't dynamically link a non-GPL compatible program to a GPL library and distribute the whole. But I could do that for private use, as long as… >>> More
GPL: does one line of GPLed code make program a "derived work"

as seen on Programmers - Search for 'Programmers'
I've recently run into some argument with a person that claims to be a lawyer (I have my suspicions about this not being completely true, though). As far as I know, copying even one line of code from GPLed program into proprietary body of code requires you to release the whole thing under GPL, if… >>> More

Developer IT

Can I use GPL software in a commercial application - Developer IT

Can I use GPL software in a commercial application

gpl

Related posts about gpl

GPL code allowing non-GPL local copies of nondistributed code

Licensing software that uses GPL code with licenses other than GPL

Does using GCC specific builtins qualify as incorporation within a project?

"Integratable" but not "integrated" GPL

GPL: does one line of GPLed code make program a "derived work"

Categories cloud