Discussion:
[Geoserver-users] GeoServer and GPL
FunkMonkey33
2017-05-12 16:13:51 UTC
Permalink
Hi,

I just noticed that GeoServer is licensed under the GNU Public License
(GPL).

I'm curious to hear from anyone who is developing or has developed a
commercial product using GeoServer as a tile server. Did you have to
release your source code for your finished product as part of the GPL
compliance?

I am thinking that they can't expect everyone who uses GeoServer to release
their source code. Firstly, there are a lot of public GeoServers out there;
I can't imagine that every project that is consuming data from a public
GeoServer is releasing it's source.

Also, I worked on a huge commercial mapping product a few years back that
used GeoServer. I know for a fact that they had lawyers looking at every
component we consumed, so I'm assuming they decided GeoServer was okay to
use.

Thanks.

Aaron




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Ian Turton
2017-05-12 16:27:29 UTC
Permalink
First I'm not a lawyer (or necessarily in your jurisdiction)!

Second try to avoid using the term commercial to describe software, all it
means is that money changed hands not what licence was used. Many of us
make a living selling GeoServer or selling services based on it which is
commercial. Proprietary means that you don't own the software and can't
look at the code!

It depends on how you are developing your product. If all it does is call
to a standard defined end point in GeoServer then you are fine - you could
switch to a completely different TileServer (either proprietary or open
source).

If however you are modifying the GeoServer code base to build your project
in which case the GPL does apply and you will need to release the source
code for your project.

Ian
Post by FunkMonkey33
Hi,
I just noticed that GeoServer is licensed under the GNU Public License
(GPL).
I'm curious to hear from anyone who is developing or has developed a
commercial product using GeoServer as a tile server. Did you have to
release your source code for your finished product as part of the GPL
compliance?
I am thinking that they can't expect everyone who uses GeoServer to release
their source code. Firstly, there are a lot of public GeoServers out there;
I can't imagine that every project that is consuming data from a public
GeoServer is releasing it's source.
Also, I worked on a huge commercial mapping product a few years back that
used GeoServer. I know for a fact that they had lawyers looking at every
component we consumed, so I'm assuming they decided GeoServer was okay to
use.
Thanks.
Aaron
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Simone Giannecchini
2017-05-12 16:29:13 UTC
Permalink
Ciao Aaron,
I can speak for myself and GeoSolutions here.

GPL mandates that upon request from someone to whom you delivered the
binaries of something build on top of GeoServer you should make
available to him the source code.

There is no mandate to put code publicly available or to give itaway
for free. Of course, you cannot stop someome who received the source
code from you to make it available, even through a minor modification.

The whole point of open source (IMHO) is giving back something, hence
that should be your mindset here :)



Regards,
Simone Giannecchini
==
GeoServer Professional Services from the experts!
Visit http://goo.gl/it488V for more information.
==
Ing. Simone Giannecchini
@simogeo
Founder/Director

GeoSolutions S.A.S.
Via di Montramito 3/A
55054 Massarosa (LU)
Italy
phone: +39 0584 962313
fax: +39 0584 1660272
mob: +39 333 8128928

http://www.geo-solutions.it
http://twitter.com/geosolutions_it

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On Fri, May 12, 2017 at 6:13 PM, FunkMonkey33
Post by FunkMonkey33
Hi,
I just noticed that GeoServer is licensed under the GNU Public License
(GPL).
I'm curious to hear from anyone who is developing or has developed a
commercial product using GeoServer as a tile server. Did you have to
release your source code for your finished product as part of the GPL
compliance?
I am thinking that they can't expect everyone who uses GeoServer to release
their source code. Firstly, there are a lot of public GeoServers out there;
I can't imagine that every project that is consuming data from a public
GeoServer is releasing it's source.
Also, I worked on a huge commercial mapping product a few years back that
used GeoServer. I know for a fact that they had lawyers looking at every
component we consumed, so I'm assuming they decided GeoServer was okay to
use.
Thanks.
Aaron
--
View this message in context: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/GeoServer-and-GPL-tp5320369.html
Sent from the GeoServer - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot
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Andrea Aime
2017-05-12 16:34:13 UTC
Permalink
Hi,
mind, I'm not a lawyer, but the license seems pretty clear, if you modify
GeoServer own code, or add bits to GeoServer (your own custom plugins) that
are depending on GeoServer own code, the moment you *distribute* the
result, you have to also release the code of your changes and extra plugins.

However, if you do not redistribute the binary, then technically your code
is still GPL, but you don't have to give it to anyone.
So if you modify the hell out of GeoServer, install it on your servers, and
run a service out of it, there is no requirement to give
out the code (this is known as the ASP loophole if memory serves me right).

Same goes for anything that talks to GeoServer via its OGC or REST
services, there is no license transfer there either,
your code is not inheriting the GPL

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Andrea


On Fri, May 12, 2017 at 6:13 PM, FunkMonkey33 <
Post by FunkMonkey33
Hi,
I just noticed that GeoServer is licensed under the GNU Public License
(GPL).
I'm curious to hear from anyone who is developing or has developed a
commercial product using GeoServer as a tile server. Did you have to
release your source code for your finished product as part of the GPL
compliance?
I am thinking that they can't expect everyone who uses GeoServer to release
their source code. Firstly, there are a lot of public GeoServers out there;
I can't imagine that every project that is consuming data from a public
GeoServer is releasing it's source.
Also, I worked on a huge commercial mapping product a few years back that
used GeoServer. I know for a fact that they had lawyers looking at every
component we consumed, so I'm assuming they decided GeoServer was okay to
use.
Thanks.
Aaron
--
View this message in context: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.
nabble.com/GeoServer-and-GPL-tp5320369.html
Sent from the GeoServer - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most
engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot
_______________________________________________
Geoserver-users mailing list
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/geoserver-users
--
==
GeoServer Professional Services from the experts! Visit
http://goo.gl/it488V for more information.
==

Ing. Andrea Aime
@geowolf
Technical Lead

GeoSolutions S.A.S.
Via di Montramito 3/A
55054 Massarosa (LU)
phone: +39 0584 962313
fax: +39 0584 1660272
mob: +39 339 8844549

http://www.geo-solutions.it
http://twitter.com/geosolutions_it

*AVVERTENZE AI SENSI DEL D.Lgs. 196/2003*

Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio di posta elettronica e/o
nel/i file/s allegato/i sono da considerarsi strettamente riservate. Il
loro utilizzo Ú consentito esclusivamente al destinatario del messaggio,
per le finalità indicate nel messaggio stesso. Qualora riceviate questo
messaggio senza esserne il destinatario, Vi preghiamo cortesemente di
darcene notizia via e-mail e di procedere alla distruzione del messaggio
stesso, cancellandolo dal Vostro sistema. Conservare il messaggio stesso,
divulgarlo anche in parte, distribuirlo ad altri soggetti, copiarlo, od
utilizzarlo per finalità diverse, costituisce comportamento contrario ai
principi dettati dal D.Lgs. 196/2003.



The information in this message and/or attachments, is intended solely for
the attention and use of the named addressee(s) and may be confidential or
proprietary in nature or covered by the provisions of privacy act
(Legislative Decree June, 30 2003, no.196 - Italy's New Data Protection
Code).Any use not in accord with its purpose, any disclosure, reproduction,
copying, distribution, or either dissemination, either whole or partial, is
strictly forbidden except previous formal approval of the named
addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, please contact
immediately the sender by telephone, fax or e-mail and delete the
information in this message that has been received in error. The sender
does not give any warranty or accept liability as the content, accuracy or
completeness of sent messages and accepts no responsibility for changes
made after they were sent or for other risks which arise as a result of
e-mail transmission, viruses, etc.

-------------------------------------------------------
Stephen V. Mather
2017-05-12 16:29:01 UTC
Permalink
Hi Aaron,


GPS is not incompatible with commercial use. I am not a lawyer, but as I understand it with GeoServer licensed under GPL, this means that if you make modifications to GeoServer _and_ give that modified GeoServer to someone else, then you need to provide your modified source code under the same or compatible license. Simply providing a hosting service does not compel you to release anything.


I hope this helps,

Cheers,

Best,

Steve



[Loading Image...] Stephen V. Mather
GIS Manager
(216) 635-3243 (Work)
clevelandmetroparks.com<http://www.clemetparks.com>



________________________________
From: FunkMonkey33 <***@ponderosa-advisors.com>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2017 12:13:51 PM
To: geoserver-***@lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: [Geoserver-users] GeoServer and GPL

Hi,

I just noticed that GeoServer is licensed under the GNU Public License
(GPL).

I'm curious to hear from anyone who is developing or has developed a
commercial product using GeoServer as a tile server. Did you have to
release your source code for your finished product as part of the GPL
compliance?

I am thinking that they can't expect everyone who uses GeoServer to release
their source code. Firstly, there are a lot of public GeoServers out there;
I can't imagine that every project that is consuming data from a public
GeoServer is releasing it's source.

Also, I worked on a huge commercial mapping product a few years back that
used GeoServer. I know for a fact that they had lawyers looking at every
component we consumed, so I'm assuming they decided GeoServer was okay to
use.

Thanks.

Aaron




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View this message in context: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/GeoServer-and-GPL-tp5320369.html
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