[Qt-qml] QML and LGPL?

[Stephen Kelly]

Jason H wrote:

> Well, what in the JSC distribution (files) are you modifying? Licenses
> only cover files.
> LGPL does not impose a license on your code, just the LGPL code.
> If you modify the LGPL code you must distribute that. If you add-on in a
> way that does not modify the original LGPL code. Then you are fine. Even
> if your QtDeclaritive additions modify the JSC, you would not have to
> distribute your whole app, just the modified parts of JSC.
> 
> GPL imposes itself on your code.

This looks like the misunderstanding. I'm not saying LGPL does.

I wrote:
> * Everything 'above' JSC you can either get a licence for (Qt, other 
> third party software), or write yourself. The LGPL doesn't affect those in 
> any other way.

What I am saying is that if you distribute LGPL code, you have to put the 
licence text in your distibuted materials (user manual for example) so that 
you comply with the LGPL when you distribute your proprietary app which uses 
JSC. The LGPL imposes that obligation on you, even though it doesn't impose 
the obligation for your app to be LGPL or GPL or anything. That's my 
understanding as a non-lawyer.

> I've heard that static linking to GPL is probably a license violation
> (without distributing) while LGPL code is just fine. It'd cease to be LGPL
> and be GPL otherwise.

That's certainly not my understanding. :) It's not that clear-cut.

See this thread in the original mail if you haven't already:

http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lib.qt.general/23723/focus=24058

If you think distributing LGPL works in your propreitary app has no 
additional obligations, why do you think NQDF makes a section to mention 
that it's LGPL in the QtScript docs?

I guess I'll file a bug. I think that if you're distributing LGPL without 
knowing the obligations you might ask a lawyer to explain them to you. Then 
you can explain them to us :)

Here's a doc that lists some obligations: 
http://www.ics.com/files/docs/Qt_LGPL.pdf

Once again though no one on the internet is a lawyer, and even if they are, 
they're not your lawyer.

All the best,

Steve.