Rant on my favourite topics : LC server with a side-dish of on-rev :-)

[Richard Gaskin]

Thanks for bringing that to my attention, Matthias.  I've sent a note to 
Kevin suggesting clarification on that FAQ item.

Most hosting companies make MySQL available under its GPL license, and 
the Free Software Foundation created the AGPL specifically for the use 
case described.

I suspect all that's needed for that FAQ item is to clarify that either:
a) that description applies to apps that are truly distributed;
b) LC Server Community Edition is licensed under AGPL (I don't believe 
it is, but I haven't checked its license in a while).

-- 
  Richard Gaskin
  Fourth World Systems



Matthias Rebbe wrote:

 >> Am 21.11.2017 um 01:59 schrieb Richard Gaskin wrote:
 >>
 >> True, the GPL does not consider access across a network to be
 >> "distribution" per se.  After all, the code never leaves the
 >> server. This is how MySQL is available at most hosting companies.
 >>
 >> The proprietary edition of LiveCode Server would only be needed in
 >> cases where you plan to distribute the server engine along with
 >> your scripts for use by a customer on their own server.
 >>
 >> If one wants a GPL-flavored license which does include network access
 >> as a protected class of use, the GNU Affero General Public License
 >> (AGPL) can be a good choice:
 >> <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html 
<https://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl-3.0.en.html>>
 >>
 >
 > Richard,
 >
 > just out of interest:
 >
 > Is that part of the Livecode FAQs 
<https://livecode.com/resources/support/ask-a-question/> wrong?
 >
 > The wording regarding apps needing additional code on a server to work
 > is this:
 > Q: My App uses code running on a server in order to work, do I need to
 > publish that code as part of the app?
 > A: If your code on the server is an integral part of making your
 > LiveCode based software work then it is linked with the app, and forms
 > a part of the code you must release if you are using LiveCode
 > Community. This would apply in the same way if you were using LiveCode
 > as a front-end to a command-line utility, linking it via shell().
 > In general, if any part of your app is released under the GPL license,
 > all of it needs to be GPL, you cannot mix open and closed source in
 > your app.
 >
 > Regards,
 > Matthias