Software Licensing

3

I'm developing a system that uses Apache server, Laravel, Mysql etc.

Well, I would like to license this system, and my question is if I can do this and if so, what kind of license should I use, given the technologies I am using to have their licenses.

My intention is to license as a private software.

Thank you.

    
asked by anonymous 08.11.2015 / 02:01

1 answer

3

You can license anyway you want because:

  • Laravel is under MIT license , which allows you to use the code on proprietary systems;
  • Apache HTTPD is under Apache license which - although substantially more complex than MIT and BSD - also allows use in proprietary software;
  • MySQL is under the GNU GPL license , which at first means that it only can be combined with other GPL-compatible software (and the derivative work must necessarily be licensed under the GPL). The keyword here is combined : simply use MySQL - connect to it via socket, send SQL commands and get answers - does not characterize a derivative work, nor second the GNU nor from the legal point of view ( disclaimer : I am not a lawyer).
    • Note that this is a special case; in general, if you are using GPL components in your project, the same could not be licensed as proprietary software. Beware of this "etc" ...

Do not forget, however, that most of these licenses require you to properly assign the source, and make it clear to whoever is receiving the software the rights they have under it (eg you can not lie by saying that you are the author of Laravel, nor prohibit its clients from making copies of MySQL).

I suggest reading this related question for a more complete view of the licensing process. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the different ways that software interacts with others, to determine whether certain use is permitted or not according to the license used. For example, if you make modifications to MySQL and want to redistribute them, it is mandatory to use the GPL license; and if your system only works on that modified MySQL - not on the original - then it will probably be considered derivative work, so it would also have to be licensed under the GPL (again, I'm not a lawyer, but this is a plausible interpretation).

    
08.11.2015 / 13:04