Sex, 2006-12-01 às 03:04 -0800, miguelx6 escreveu: > Hello, > I'm going to develop a project for public administration. They will be > the users of this software, they are not going to sell it. After > finishing the project, I have to deliver all the sources to them, so I > will not own the sources after that. My question is, could I use gpl > libraries? I am working for a company and they are going to pay us for > this project, but, as I am delivering them all the sources, I suppose > ther should be any problem.
Of course you can use GNU GPL'ed libraries. Usually public administrations demand source code because there's a tendency to create vendor lock-in by holding the software modification hostage to the company that originally wrote the software (vide Microsoft Windows, for instance). So when PA orders software, they order access to code. If you develop software using GNU GPL'ed libraries, you have to redistribute the derivatives under the same terms, but in this case you're developing on the behalf of someone else, and on common informatics & copyright laws the responsability is upon the entity which ordered the software. This means that as you developed it using GNU GPL'ed libraries, the PA will not be able to redistribute that software as proprietary software. If you think straight, it doesn't make sense for PA to distribute proprietary software, because (at least) on democratic governments the government has many duties towards the citizens that can't be fullfilled with proprietary software: transparency, the software being available to all citizens without benefiting one single company among many, etc... So by all means use GNU GPL'ed libraries, but explain to your contractors in positive wording that: a) this will allow the PA to fullfill it's democratic obligations towards the citizens b) using those GNU GPL'ed libraries you will finish the program sooner c) using those GNU GPL'ed libraries means they will not be locked-on to you or any single company d) if you don't use those GNU GPL'ed libraries you will have to use proprietary libraries that d1) are likely more expensive d2) may not allow redistribution at all being thus of less value d3) there are too many reasons to waste time here listing them all e) if you don't use external libraries you will have to develop your own, which will take a lot more time and greatly increase cost etc... Oh, and don't pay attention to Alexander, remember this is a GNU list/newsgroup so isn't it weird that someone hangs around here trying to destroy the very purpose of this list or of Free Software? He's a troll. Don't feed him, let him dry out in the sun. Rui -- + No matter how much you do, you never do enough -- unknown + Whatever you do will be insignificant, | but it is very important that you do it -- Gandhi + So let's do it...?
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