Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [closed-source]

60 questions
232
votes
2 answers

Best existing license for closed-source code

I'm creating a few closed-source applications on my own (no big company behind me) and am wondering exactly how to protect them. At the top of all the source code files I have this pretty basic copyright…
TheLQ
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135
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14 answers

Is it possible to rewrite every line of an open source project in a slightly different way, and use it in a closed source project?

There is some code which is GPL or LGPL that I am considering using for an iPhone project. If I took that code (JavaScript) and rewrote it in a different language for use on the iPhone would that be a legal issue? In theory the process that has…
Chris Barry
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67
votes
14 answers

How to prevent code from leaking outside work?

Possible Duplicate: How to manage a Closed Source High-Risk Project? I'm working on an institution that has a really strong sense of "possession" - each line of software we write should be only ours. Ironically, I'm the only programmer (ATM), but…
AeroCross
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49
votes
2 answers

Can I use new BSD licensed library/code in commercial closed source project?

I've found a software library, licensed under the new BSD license. I want to use in my closed source commercial project. Can I do it?
kravemir
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41
votes
15 answers

How do you effectively compete with an open source project?

A company with a solid open source project competing against a traditional closed-source product seems impossible to beat. I read this article wherein the author lays out this scenario: Suppose one could divide a software market—say network…
richard
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35
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6 answers

Reasons NOT to open source not-for-profit code?

I am a big fan of open source code. I think I understand most of the advantages of going open source. I'm a science student researcher, and I have to work with quite a surprising amount of software and code that is not open source (either it's…
naught101
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26
votes
3 answers

Managing in-house NuGet packages with source code access

We have a lot of in-house libraries that we would like to share between projects inside the company. These are some of the requirements: library sources are stored in repositories separated from end-projects end-projects include libraries via…
Dyppl
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23
votes
5 answers

Should we be hosting code online?

We're looking for a good source control and project management solution at my workplace and I've suggested creating a GitHub organization and private repositories. I love GitHub for many reasons, but this isn't about GitHub (in fact my colleagues…
Mathieu Guindon
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23
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7 answers

Can I use GPL libraries temporarily for prototyping and make the future code closed source?

I am working on a prototype for a software system, which (at least at the start) will be closed source. In order to save time, I'm thinking of using (that is, statically linking) a library that is licensed under GPLv3, so I can test my design…
Laurent S
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21
votes
4 answers

Taking an open source project to closed source

How is it legally possible to take a project initially released as open source back to closed source? Especially one licensed with the GPL any version.
Matt Phillips
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16
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6 answers

How do I spot and document a GPL violation?

How to spot that someone copied open source code licensed with GPL to their closed source commercial application, when you don't have access to their closed source code? Edit: Great answers! Part 2. What if it is a webapp where you don't even have…
siamii
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16
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10 answers

Can a closed-source programming language survive?

A friend has written a programming language. It has a syntax reminiscent of SGML. He has written an interpreter for it, and an IDE. He and his colleagues use it in-house as a server-side language. It can also be used to write command-line tools. He…
bugmagnet
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16
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2 answers

What are some ramifications of open source software turning into closed source software?

If a company takes a permissively licensed open source application and then develops a closed source application from that by reworking extensive parts of the application, adding new features and applying bug fixes... Ignoring any license…
Verrier
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15
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3 answers

Own project: Open source to closed source

In this thread it is discussed if it is legally possible to take on open source project and close its sources. But this seems to refer to someone else's project. So, my question is: What about my own source? Let's say I release the first version as…
Willi Mentzel
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15
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1 answer

May I include parts of MIT-licensed code inside my closed-source project?

This could be a simple yes/no answer, but I invite detailed explanations. Scenario I have been asked to extend a closed source system at my job, which is not formally released under any license. I thought I'd learned once that meant all rights are…
Jeff Puckett
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