2 Replies Latest reply on Jul 29, 2005 10:07 AM by dajevtic

    JbossCache License

    dajevtic

      Hello everyone,
      I hope that there are some people out there who can clarify this licensing question for me.
      Until now I have been programming a web application which is based only on libraries using the Apache License.
      I have played a little with JbossCache and find it to be one of the best tools for caching my data. As of today I have not used any LGPL based software, because of some irregularities in the license. I want to distribute my web app under a commercial license, but think that as soon as I use an LGPL based library I also have to distribute my web app under LGPL.

      My believe is strengthened by the following article of the LGPL:
      A program that contains no derivative of any portion of the Library, but is designed to work with the Library by being compiled or linked with it, is called a "work that uses the Library". Such a work, in isolation, is not a derivative work of the Library, and therefore falls outside the scope of this License.
      However, linking a "work that uses the Library" with the Library creates an executable that is a derivative of the Library (because it contains portions of the Library), rather than a "work that uses the library". The executable is therefore covered by this License. Section 6 states terms for distribution of such executables.

      Since my web app is using an LGPL library it therefore also needs to be LGPL.
      Is this correct?

      I would appreciate some hints of other users, who may have encountered the same problem. In the future I want to use JbossCache if licensing allows me to do that.
      Is there a commercial JbossCache license which I may not be aware of?

        • 1. Re: JbossCache License
          belaban

          I'm not a lawyer, but...

          The LGPL license allows you to link your commercial application X against JBossCache and ship X without having to license X under LGPL.

          This is my understanding, and the understanding of JBoss Inc.
          IMO, the LGPL is a bit unclear wrt Java (Stallman wrote it with C in mind). Hopefully, the FSF releases a revised (and clearer) version of the LGPL some time soon.
          No, there is no commercial license for JBossCache.

          • 2. Re: JbossCache License
            dajevtic

            Thank you very much.

            Very informative!

            Regards,
            dj