Questions tagged [open-source-software]
For questions about open source software, which is licensed under an open source license. Generally, the source code is made available, and it provides a set of terms to allow others to use it. You may want to consider asking your question at Open Source Stack Exchange as well.
318
questions
3
votes
1
answer
564
views
IP ownership in software contract clauses
Many software contract templates will say something along the lines of
"All intellectual property [...] that is developed or produced under this Agreement, will be the sole property of the Client."
...
- 133
4
votes
1
answer
197
views
Removing Developer Name From Software
I have recently found someone that is using software that I released on GitHub under the Apache License 2.0.
The software is a Discord bot that includes a dashboard.
I also have the following in the ...
- 43
2
votes
1
answer
210
views
Must I always ask permission if I use code someone other wrote?
I was told that it might be useful to publish something on Github to get a job. I was wondering if there are any copyright issues here:
Suppose I got an idea of a small program. I do it mostly by my ...
- 23
4
votes
1
answer
222
views
Can I use my own Open Source code in commercial software I'm writing?
If I release some code that I wrote myself with an Open Source license (a WordPress plugin with the GPL2 license, https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html), can I then use my own code in commercial ...
- 143
3
votes
2
answers
94
views
Open Source Contributor Agreements and Consideration
Some Open Source projects require their contributors to execute so called Contributor Agreements. The content of these agreements vary, but many address contributors right to make the contribution and ...
- 131
2
votes
1
answer
194
views
Who, at a company, is allowed to release code under (open source) license?
Suppose I wanted to release some code I wrote for my employer as an open source project, who at the company would be allowed to do that in the eyes of the law?
I ask about open source, but I suppose ...
- 332
4
votes
2
answers
890
views
Is it legal for manufacturers to lock bootloaders on Android phones?
Some backgroud :
A bootloader is a very low level piece of software that runs first and loads an operating system of some other tool. On a lot of new Android devices the bootloader is "locked", that ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
Does publishing code under open-source license remove property rights?
I have done substantial work on some software that I plan to continue to develop and improve during the course of my next employment. The contract has something to the effect of
All code created ...
- 11
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How are open source licenses valid without consideration?
I'm not a lawyer or law student in any capacity, but I've read in multiple sources that a contract is not valid unless there is consideration for both parties.
With this in mind, how can licenses for ...
- 141
1
vote
2
answers
170
views
Can creating a web scraper be illegal? [duplicate]
Let me start with specifying that I'm not asking about the act of web scraping itself, neither the use of the data obtained through that method.
What I'm asking exactly in simple terms:
Can I be ...
- 113
4
votes
1
answer
283
views
Re-Releasing, Re-Naming and Re-Writing Open Source GNU V3 Licensed software
MAIN QUESTION SUMMARY:
Can someone with real world experience, who has actually Modified, Re-Wrote, Re-Released and Re-Named Open Source GNU V3 Licensed software; please share their experience on the ...
0
votes
1
answer
33
views
Do I have to link to the glyphicon website?
The Bootstrap homepage states :
Glyphicons Halflings are normally not available for free, but their creator has made them available for Bootstrap free of cost. As a thank you, we only ask that you ...
- 159
3
votes
1
answer
181
views
Can a professor patent and license a technology if the development used software with non-commerical license?
Suppose a professor or student at a university uses software like Rosetta (a protein folding software) for their research. Rosetta has free academic licenses as well as paid commercial licenses ...
1
vote
1
answer
106
views
Does software API copyrightability extend across programming languages?
I was initially going to post this on softwareengineering.stackexchange but after some research I believe this might be more on topic here.
I was recently faced with the problem of needing an open ...
- 113
0
votes
0
answers
153
views
Modifying Open Source System Files to Cheat
I am asking this question primarily as a follow up to this question: Is creating and selling "cheats" or "hacks" for games illegal?
The consensus in that question seems that it is ...
- 3,568
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do international sanctions have an impact on Open Source Software?
Background
Recently I was reading about embargoes and sanctions on Iran (also this link) and before Sudan, and it got me thinking about how they could impact Open Source Software. Sanctions being ...
- 245
0
votes
1
answer
250
views
Legality of Forking Open Source Projects
Are there any legal issues with forking an open source project and putting your own name and spin on it? I am talking specifically about projects that are operating under the MIT or Creative Commons ...
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
Copyright on code from public source
Let's imagine consultancy A develops a code for client B that use some free available code from a website so it's a derivative work from the free code (MIT license). Can consultancy A re-use the same ...
- 133
7
votes
3
answers
413
views
Is it legal to open source a spyware?
I have created a simple spyware on which whenever a form is submitted on any website, it will serialize the form data then send the data to my email address.
I am only currently using it on my own ...
- 71
-4
votes
1
answer
115
views
possible problems when removing a license
Specifically speaking of free software licenses, and particularly speak of Blende.org / Blender 2.7xx.
I want to know what happens if I withdraw the license and / or replace it with another one. I am ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
63
views
Is it legal to require registration to obtain US Government software or data?
Is it legal to require registration to obtain US Government software or data?
For example, if a government web site makes you put in an email address before you can access public data or public ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
50
views
What license model to use for disclosing the source code of a paid software product? [closed]
I am developing and selling a piece of software over the internet. Recently a customer has asked me for a copy of the source code, so he can add custom features and maybe also assist to fix bugs. He ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
Appending to a creative commons license [closed]
I'm currently developing a game for which I want to document my experience with online through my website. On the site, one of things I want to offer anyone who subscribes to my mailing list is access ...
- 3
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to legally contribute to open source projects (and other public stuff) in Germany?
Being a software developer it is very important to contribute to public projects and participate in public professional activities. This includes open source projects (which may belong to other ...
- 255
2
votes
0
answers
154
views
Open source encryption library pose export compliance
I am developing an app which will encrypt users files , photos etc. I use the open source library RNCryptor to do the operation . Does this make my app require export compliance ? . Does the export ...
0
votes
4
answers
168
views
Is a software license still valid, if it claims copyright for previous years?
I had a FOSS project with a license which first mentioned "Copyright 2016". Then year 2017 came, and I replaced it with "Copyright 2017". After a while, I realized my mistake and replaced it with "...
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
824
views
Is the WTFPL globally valid?
Reading the comments to the answer of this question, it seems that the Unlicense presents legal problems in countries like Germany. This is because German law doesn't permit simply waiving all ...
- 43
0
votes
1
answer
122
views
Copying documentation and images from apache2 license
I am software developer and I wrote framework that is based on the same concepts as framework that is available in different language.
This framework is under Apache2 License and I want to copy big ...
- 103
0
votes
1
answer
85
views
Using Qt with LPGL license for a revenue generating, non-distributed private project
I am planning on porting my Python based TradingBot to C++ due to Python's GIL limitation. I have looked up a few c++ libraries like boost and Qt. I'm more inclined to use Qt because of its excellent ...
- 103
0
votes
2
answers
97
views
What's the legal state of a data learnt from open-source datasets?
Is it legal to make a software to "learn" from open-source datasets like Freebase or WordNet and use it to build an open-source knowledge-base system?
Freebase license (CC-BY) - Require credit and ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
39
views
Does GNU General Public License Persist When Changing Source Code Language
Recently I rewrote a very small PHP program (~300 lines) under the GNU General Public License into an equivalent C# program and it made me curious where the new program I wrote stands legally. Is the ...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
340
views
Are open-source developers protected to a greater extent from liability in the event of security breach involving their software?
I'm studying for the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) exam and am confused by some statements that were made regarding cloud application security. Specifically a statement on proprietary ...
- 143
3
votes
0
answers
86
views
Open source crypto project wallet and its liability
I'm working on a crypto wallet for a top 50 cryptocurrency. I'm part of the core team and we were discussing potential liability around the app we're building.
It's released as-is and under a BSD-2 ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
79
views
Is there always a legal way to make an open source product integrate against the will of a proprietary vendor?
This question is tightly related to other questions here. I'm asking for the USA. Rather than questioning a method of evasion, or predicating the question on any specific contract let's assume there ...
- 1,917
0
votes
1
answer
75
views
Are different licenses legally binding and can any person/company sue another person/company for violating open source licence?
With "license" I am referring to the open source licences such as the Creative commons licence or other open-source software or hardware licenses such as MIT License or GNU License or CERN hardware ...
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
Software Licence Agreement for project developed away from work to be used at work
I developed a logging application. I started a process with my employer to integrate the application on-premise at their client's servers.
The application was developed by me, during my free time.
...
- 113
-1
votes
1
answer
236
views
Can you sue a DAO that offers "software as a coin"?
Please help me evaluate the fictitious fact pattern below and understand whether there is a viable legal strategy for the prosecution. Note that this is somewhat futuristic and does not contemplate a ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
217
views
Does a company own my company's product if I use their open source code?
Does a company own my company's product if I use their open source code?
I am reading through the SDK License agreement of a company's code and it reads:
========================================
...
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Who owns the code when my employer wants something similar to my existing open source project?
I have a similar situation to this question.
My employer hired me knowing that I work on some open source projects, but for a long time, showed no interest in my open source projects. Now they want ...
- 223
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
Reproduce some website ideas on my own opensource project
I am a developer and I recently came accross a website to practice my development environment skills. This website has a premium access policy and rather than paying, I would like to develop my own ...
- 103
3
votes
1
answer
287
views
What are the potential legal consequences for a company that has GPL violations?
In the news recently was that the smartphone company Xiaomi has not released the kernel source code for its Android phone that has been on the market for over 3 months. Since Android is based on the ...
- 1,978
3
votes
2
answers
663
views
Why can you use the font “Helvetica” for free in LaTeX although it would otherwise be required to pay a fee?
When looking for the Helvetica font, it usually costs you a certain amount of money because it is not a free font. But when I am using the free open source software LaTeX, I can use the font wherever ...
- 131
0
votes
1
answer
84
views
Legal aspects of using trademarks for sponsorship in free computer games
Because I am a layman, I ask that you excuse my plain language when expressing myself.
Hypothetical situation:
An open-source car racing game has multiple skins (paintjobs) for each car. The car ...
- 101
2
votes
1
answer
201
views
Open source idea closely related to product at work
For a while I have had an idea for an open source project. Now, I've started building something similar at work as an internal tool (so not public). So does that mean I can not go on and do the ...
user14529
-1
votes
1
answer
103
views
Private license and Apache License Version 2.0 in one commercial product?
If I’m using an official cordova plugin licensed under Apache License Version 2.0 in my commercial product, am I allowed to sell it (the source code of my product to another party) under two different ...
- 9
1
vote
0
answers
2k
views
ISC vs MIT vs Simplified FreeBSD: what is the difference between these licenses?
What is the difference between:
ISC License
MIT License (Expat)
BSD 2-Clause License (FreeBSD/Simplified)
The ISC seems to be a simplification of MIT and FreeBSD Simplified after Berne convention.
...
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
152
views
When a contractor develops a program based on clients specifications, who owns the rights?
I was hired to create a computer program. The client gave me directions on what it should do and how the UI should look like (complete with pictures). No formal contract was ever made, and I realize ...
- 57
0
votes
1
answer
98
views
How can I integrate open source licenses, such as MIT, into my own open source project when my code is unlicensed?
I want to use a portion of an existing project that is licensed under MIT. MIT seems to state that I must include their license in my work, but I don't want to use any license for my own work (i.e. ...
0
votes
1
answer
105
views
Can the original author of a WTFPL Project be sued for patent infringement?
So I browsed through the WTFPL Feedback Section and found this question unanswered (actually it was answered but I do not want to gun down people in the streets).
So, if somebody sues you, can they ...
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
168
views
A license which only grants private use
Say you have a software company, and you would like to make all the source code you provide FOSS, as you want to allow your customers to be able to modify and learn the code of the software you ...
user13101