license

A discussion forum for JFreeChart (a 2D chart library for the Java platform).
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joly2
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:55 am

license

Post by joly2 » Mon Mar 22, 2004 12:10 pm

Hi
i'm very grateful for JFreeChart, as I am busy like anything now and am involved in a commercial app that needs to plot some simple graphs. I thought it would save me some time if i used JFreeChart.

anyway, my understanding is that my organization can sell our product but we have to include the source for the JFreeChart library with certain copyright details etc. And, whoever buys our program can do whatever they like with the JFreeChart library. They can give away JFreeChart but not our software RIGHT? I'm preety sure about this but i just want confirmation.

Also, what happens when the commercial program is patented? Consumers are still free to do whatever they like with JFreeChart right? but they can't touch our program right?

And what of the requirement to make sure the library can be altered but will still work with my application..so long as i don't modify the library i wont have to worry about that right?

thank you very much
Joseph

zany
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:36 pm
Location: Germany

LGPL

Post by zany » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:07 pm

Hi,

the usual LGPL rules apply.

As to my understanding if you just link to the library (LGPL § 5) you need to comply to LGPL § 6 only. Give a prominent notice that you are using JFreeChart. Include a link to jfree.org so people can download the lib (and prehaps relink). If you modify any part of JFreeChart you need to follow the GPL (LGPL copies the GPL in that case mostly).

However, read http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html carefully and apply common sense.

cu,
Christian

Taqua
JFreeReport Project Leader
Posts: 698
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2003 3:34 pm
Contact:

Post by Taqua » Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:04 pm

Hi,

of course, you are free to modify JFreeChart and to include that modified version in your program. Just ship the complete (builable) sourcecode for that version with your program and everything will be fine.

If your changes are valueable for other developers too, it would be nice if you share them with us, but that's no requirement at all. As long as your customers can get the complete sourcecode for the JFreeChart library from you, the licence requirements will be satisfied.

Have mo' fun,
said Thomas

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