Having just re-read the GNU GPL v2 and currently thinking about how an ‘app store’ for Discourse would work, it occurred to me that it is arguable that the use of Discourse plugins for which the source code is not publicly available (e.g. in a private repository) breaches the terms of the GPL v2. T…

hm yes. Invariably, the question is how courts will construe it. There seems to be a perception in the industry, influenced by Wordpress and similar examples, that the GPL v2 allows for private plugins to software licensed under the GPL v2. However, if a interested party decides to test this in co…

I am clearly not an IP lawyer, but we require a CLA for every core contribution so this is a non issue for our own hosting cause we have full control of core licensing. For self hosters using private plugins, no idea, maybe it is an issue.

[image] sam: I am clearly not an IP lawyer, but we require a CLA for every core contribution so this is a non issue for our own hosting cause we have full control of core licensing. Right. This is not an issue for core Discourse or Discourse hosting. It’s an issue for 3rd parties who have mad…

BTW Previous discussion at A question on GPL licensing and the current WordPress debacle - #8 by cpradio [image] angus: . It’s an issue for 3rd parties who have made private plugins. As I understand, only if you’re distributing them.

[image] michaeld: As I understand, only if you’re distributing them. This seems to be where people have landed, however I’m not sure this is legally correct. The references to ‘distribute’ are always used along with references to ‘copy’ or ‘copy, modify, sublicense’. It seems to go beyond jus…

Ok, so you are just heaping speculation on top of (already existing!) speculation, and NOUAAL (None Of Us Are A Lawyer) so.. is there any purpose to this topic, other than capturing the random thoughts of random people?

I am a lawyer. But, yes it is still largely speculation, given the lack of precedents on the matter. I may just be needlessly scaring people, given the practical dimensions here. And that there aren’t any other lawyers here to discuss the question. Nevertheless, as a third party plugin developer, …

[image] angus: This seems to be where people have landed, however I’m not sure this is legally correct. The references to ‘distribute’ are always used along with references to ‘copy’ or ‘copy, modify, sublicense’. It seems to go beyond just distribution. From the Wordpress site mentioned abov…

This is going to get lawerly. Apologies in advance. There are three issues with those two sentences. One is that it is Wordpress’ view and not determinative of how the GPL will actually be interpreted (it is basically a guess on their part). The second is that it mixes two uses of the word ‘distr…

Does the use of private plugins breach the terms of the GNU GPL v2?

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codinghorror (Jeff Atwood) May 17, 2017, 4:13pm 10

I suggest researching what paid WordPress plugin authors do in practice will be the most useful outcome here.

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Does the use of private plugins breach the terms of the GNU GPL v2?

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