Qt LGPL license query for Embedded System
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hello @SGaist
I have read that Qt Creator IDE and tools are also released under GPL License. So whether it means that when we develop GUI using QT Creator then also we need to provide source code of our Application to customer ? Thanks :)
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The license of your application is unrelated to the license of the editor you are currently using to edit the files of your project.
It becomes important if you are integrating elements of Qt Creator in your application though.
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ok @SGaist thank you very much for your reply. I will take care of it.
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If that solves your question then please mark the thread as solved using the "Topic Tools" button so that other forum members may know a solution has been found :)
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Hello @SGaist,
I have one more question. What does following requirement of LGPL license means ?
"Must make “open” consumer devices"
Q) Whether it means that we need to provide application installation guide to customer using which he should be able to install his modified version of Application or application from some other third party to our hardware?
Q) Whether it also disallow us to sign our application with an authoritative key which will only be allowed to run on device ?
Many thanks for help :)
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Hello @SGaist,
I have one more question. What does following requirement of LGPL license means ?
"Must make “open” consumer devices"
Q) Whether it means that we need to provide application installation guide to customer using which he should be able to install his modified version of Application or application from some other third party to our hardware?
Q) Whether it also disallow us to sign our application with an authoritative key which will only be allowed to run on device ?
Many thanks for help :)
@saurabh162 This is the LGPL: https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html
I cannot find the word "consumer" or "device" there. So, what do you mean exactly? Can you point to the place in the license? -
Hello @jsulm,
I have read about condition of "open consumer product" under LGPL license from following link. please read last paragraph in following.
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Hello @jsulm,
I have read about condition of "open consumer product" under LGPL license from following link. please read last paragraph in following.
@saurabh162 LGPL v3 has so called tivoisation clause. It means that if you use a software component licensed under LGPL v3 you have to provide the users the possibility to replace this components with their own. In practice this means that you have to provide objects files generated during build process, so users can link your app again. You don't have to provide your source code though.
I think signing your binary will violate LGPL v3 as it will not allow users to replace LGPL v3 components.Keep in mind: I'm not a lawyer!
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Hence why device builder may have two filesystem on their device:
- One readonly with everything that can't be changed outside a firmware update
- One readwrite (or that can be made so) with all components that might be replaced -> hence the use of dynamic linking so the application itself is not concerned with that.
Again, if the application is statically built against (L)GPL components, object files must be provided to allow relinking. This means that object files for all released versions must be kept and made available.
I can't comment about the signing process as I don't know what exactly it involves with regards to dependencies.
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hello @jsulm ..Thank you very much jsulm. Does this also applies to embedded device which will be used to measure for example presure in industries ? As according to me it is not consumer product .
@saurabh162 If you're going to sell this device (or distribute it to the outside world in any other way) it will apply. It is not just about consumers, it is about distribution: if you distribute your product (means it leaves your company) then the license applies. Distribution can be anything: selling, give away, releasing as open source, ...
Your consumers are the companies buying your product. -
Ok thank you very much @jsulm for your help :)
