[kwlug-disc] Switch license or keep it the same?

[doug moen]

You don't have to change the copyright licence on your files if they
reference other files that are GPL3. You own the copyright on your own
files, you can attach any licence you want, and the GPL doesn't have the
legal power to force you to do otherwise. So keep the Apache 2 licence in
place. But you should note the dependency on a GPL'ed library somewhere,
perhaps in the README file.

The GPL on pyshorteners only affects you if you distribute a combined work
that incorporates both GPL'ed files and your files in a single work; then
the entire combined work must be distributed on the terms of the GPL, even
though individual files within that combined work may be distributed
separately using the Apache 2 licence.

If somebody later wants to change your code to remove the pyshorteners
dependency, they can do so, and then they will only be subject to Apache 2.

On 12 April 2018 at 15:12, Paul Nijjar via kwlug-disc <kwlug-disc at kwlug.org>
wrote:

>
> I am currently dealing with my first GPL dilemma. I have some scripts
> here: https://github.com/pnijjar/google-calendar-helpers . It is
> currently licensed under an Apache 2.0 license.
>
> In its infinite wisdom Google is sunsetting its goo.gl link shortening
> service. I use link shortening in my email newsletters, so I am
> looking for a replacement. I have decided it is better to outsource
> link shortening to a third party rather than trying to set up my own
> link shortener.
>
> The most promising library for shortening URLs seems to be
> https://github.com/ellisonleao/pyshorteners/ . It is nice because it
> supports many different services, and because it is maintained. It is
> GPL3, so if I use it I have to change the license of my scripts.
>
> There are other libraries that support only one or two services, and
> they are less maintained. (Of course, I could write my own code to
> call the API of one or more services, but let's pretend I won't.)
>
> Nobody is actually using these scripts but me, so this is an academic
> question. But I am struggling with it. Should I use the better library
> and switch my license? Or should I roll my own or use a lesser library
> and keep things Apache 2.0?
>
> I don't hate the GPL but I chose the Apache license deliberately so
> that giant corporations would be willing to use my scripts to send
> newsletters. But this is not a big consideration for me.
>
> - Paul
>
> --
> http://pnijjar.freeshell.org
>
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>
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