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Is GPL for research purposes only self-contradictory?
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So I used a piece of software which claims to be open source and is licensed under "GPL for research purposes only".
As far as I know, GPL 2 and 3 are not themselves free, in sense that you can't change them and still call them GPL.
Also, as far as I remember, they don't allow developers to restrict the rights granted by them. Cases such as GPL, GPL or GPL + exceptions, or GPL or another license are possible, but GPL with some rights is removed is not allowed.
Given the above, is the idea of licensing code under "GPL for research purposes only" self-contradictory?
gpl restrictions
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
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So I used a piece of software which claims to be open source and is licensed under "GPL for research purposes only".
As far as I know, GPL 2 and 3 are not themselves free, in sense that you can't change them and still call them GPL.
Also, as far as I remember, they don't allow developers to restrict the rights granted by them. Cases such as GPL, GPL or GPL + exceptions, or GPL or another license are possible, but GPL with some rights is removed is not allowed.
Given the above, is the idea of licensing code under "GPL for research purposes only" self-contradictory?
gpl restrictions
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
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AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago
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up vote
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down vote
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So I used a piece of software which claims to be open source and is licensed under "GPL for research purposes only".
As far as I know, GPL 2 and 3 are not themselves free, in sense that you can't change them and still call them GPL.
Also, as far as I remember, they don't allow developers to restrict the rights granted by them. Cases such as GPL, GPL or GPL + exceptions, or GPL or another license are possible, but GPL with some rights is removed is not allowed.
Given the above, is the idea of licensing code under "GPL for research purposes only" self-contradictory?
gpl restrictions
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
So I used a piece of software which claims to be open source and is licensed under "GPL for research purposes only".
As far as I know, GPL 2 and 3 are not themselves free, in sense that you can't change them and still call them GPL.
Also, as far as I remember, they don't allow developers to restrict the rights granted by them. Cases such as GPL, GPL or GPL + exceptions, or GPL or another license are possible, but GPL with some rights is removed is not allowed.
Given the above, is the idea of licensing code under "GPL for research purposes only" self-contradictory?
gpl restrictions
gpl restrictions
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
asked 2 hours ago
AndrejaKo
1163
1163
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
AndrejaKo is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago
add a comment |Â
In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago
In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago
In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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Basically yes to everything you say, although politically it may get complicated. Section 10 of the GPL v3 forbids any further restrictions your rights under the license:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License.
"For research purposes only" is exactly the sort of term this is targeting. In theory, if a program is claimed to be distributed under the GPL v3 and does contain an additional restriction you can remove that restriction via the wording in Section 7:
If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term.
So therefore you could try and distribute the code under the GPL without any further restrictions. Up to you whether to start that fight or not!
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Basically yes to everything you say, although politically it may get complicated. Section 10 of the GPL v3 forbids any further restrictions your rights under the license:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License.
"For research purposes only" is exactly the sort of term this is targeting. In theory, if a program is claimed to be distributed under the GPL v3 and does contain an additional restriction you can remove that restriction via the wording in Section 7:
If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term.
So therefore you could try and distribute the code under the GPL without any further restrictions. Up to you whether to start that fight or not!
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Basically yes to everything you say, although politically it may get complicated. Section 10 of the GPL v3 forbids any further restrictions your rights under the license:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License.
"For research purposes only" is exactly the sort of term this is targeting. In theory, if a program is claimed to be distributed under the GPL v3 and does contain an additional restriction you can remove that restriction via the wording in Section 7:
If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term.
So therefore you could try and distribute the code under the GPL without any further restrictions. Up to you whether to start that fight or not!
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Basically yes to everything you say, although politically it may get complicated. Section 10 of the GPL v3 forbids any further restrictions your rights under the license:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License.
"For research purposes only" is exactly the sort of term this is targeting. In theory, if a program is claimed to be distributed under the GPL v3 and does contain an additional restriction you can remove that restriction via the wording in Section 7:
If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term.
So therefore you could try and distribute the code under the GPL without any further restrictions. Up to you whether to start that fight or not!
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
Basically yes to everything you say, although politically it may get complicated. Section 10 of the GPL v3 forbids any further restrictions your rights under the license:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the rights granted or affirmed under this License.
"For research purposes only" is exactly the sort of term this is targeting. In theory, if a program is claimed to be distributed under the GPL v3 and does contain an additional restriction you can remove that restriction via the wording in Section 7:
If the Program as you received it, or any part of it, contains a notice stating that it is governed by this License along with a term that is a further restriction, you may remove that term.
So therefore you could try and distribute the code under the GPL without any further restrictions. Up to you whether to start that fight or not!
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
answered 2 hours ago
Philip Kendall
89839
89839
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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In what context was the "GPL for research purposes only" statement made? Perhaps they simply meant it is not ready for actual customer use, hence "for research purposes only." Did you look at the license of the software and see if the license there is really the GPL v2 or v3, verbatim?
– Brandin
38 mins ago