search

smalot / pdfparser

PdfParser, a standalone PHP library, provides various tools to extract data from a PDF file.
GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0
2.38k stars 535 forks source link

Licence bug #115

Closed sirfragalot closed 7 years ago

sirfragalot commented 8 years ago

Hi Sebastien,

Not really a bug in the software sense but this is something that will stop your software being used by many others including myself.

The problem is the GPL 3 licence that is too restrictive for many purposes. There are two issues the GPL licence has -- 1. incompatibility of GPL with some countries' laws of intellectual property and 2. the fact that it is a 'viral licence.'

Both case mean that I can't use your software. I program WIKINDX (https://sourceforge.net/projects/wikindx/). It's currently under GPL but I am shifting to CeCILL http://www.cecill.info/licences.fr.html because of the two points above.

  1. GPL is incompatible with e.g French intellectual copyright laws. I have a French collaborator on WIKINDX who is uneasy about contributing to WIKINDX because of the GPL.
  2. GPL requires any software using GPL'ed software to also be released under the GPL licence. Clearly, if I shift to CeCILL to a) satisfy my collaborator in France and b) allow others to package and use WIKINDX without themselves being forced to use GPL.

I hope it will be possible for you to release a version of your software with a less restrictive licence.

Regards,

Mark

smalot commented 8 years ago

Hi,

This library is mainly based on "tecnickcom/tcpdf" library which is licenced under GNU-LGPL v3. I'm not very aware about licencing rules, but I put my work under this licence too. About French intellectual copyright laws, I'm the author even if I use a wrong licence.

BR

sirfragalot commented 8 years ago

Many thanks for the quick response Sebastien.

The GNU-LGPL likewise requires the use of GNU-GPL for the 'host' software (i.e. WIKINDX in this case) it's a licence that's too restrictive for the free use GPL intends. However, as you use the tcpdf library, then you can't shift to another licence.

We need to find another solution unfortunately.

Regards,

Mark

EDIT: A closer look at the Lesser GPL indicates that it is less 'viral' than the GPL. I need to take advice but I think we might actually be able to use your (great) software.

"a) Give prominent notice with each copy of the Combined Work that the Library is used in it and that the Library and its use are covered by this License. b) Accompany the Combined Work with a copy of the GNU GPL and this license document."

Might be able to use . . . you state you release your code under the GNU-LGPL v3. Your documentation (README.md) says GNU-GPL v3 (which is too restrictive for us).

sirfragalot commented 8 years ago

Hi Sebastien,

Just to clarify, when you say your code is Lesser GHPL, your code actually states GPL. If the code were actually Lesser GPL, then we could use it. Your licence is: 'GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3, 29 June 2007 ....'

We can't use your code with that restrictive, viral licence. Regards,

Mark

johnvandeweghe commented 7 years ago

This appears to be complete as of today @smalot