GPL and LGPL open source licensing restrictions

open-source licensing
rsinha picture rsinha · Jul 11, 2009 · Viewed 68.4k times · Source

I am having trouble understanding the usage permissions of open source. I read somewhere that GPL or LGPL enforces that software that uses GPL software must also be released open-source. I want to create an application that uses some open-source image recognition library. Can I sell this application or does it have to be open source?

Thanks!

Answer

Robert Harvey picture Robert Harvey · Jul 11, 2009

LGPL allows you to use and distribute the open source software with your application without releasing the source code for your application.

GPL requires you to release the source code of your application if you choose to use and distribute the GPL licensed open source software with your application. In other words, your application must also be licensed under the GPL.

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