open source applications with closed source components

[Bruce Dodson]

If your program was written in Visual Basic, it would depend on the Visual 
Basic runtime, which is a framework.  There are lots of open source 
applications written in VB.

You should not include the proprietary components in your source kit, but 
should instead list them as requirements.  It would also be best if you made 
a good-faith attempt to remove those requirements, or stated a willingness 
to accept patches which remove the requirements.  For the convenience of end 
users, you can still include the proprietary parts in the binary 
distribution.

Then your source kit would be for an incomplete program, but would be OSI 
Certified.  There are lots of incomplete OSI certified products out there.  
Mozilla was incomplete when it was launched.

In a few cases a closed-source requirement can remain in the software 
indefinately, and no one will object.  For example, if your open source 
component is an Adobe Photoshop plugin, it may reasonably depend on 
Photoshop.  (No one will be put out by this because the only people who 
would want that software are those who have Photoshop.)

Although I haven't quite answered your question, I hope that helps.

Bruce


>From: Edwin Zacharias <ez4 at mac.com>
>To: "Bruce Dodson" <bruce_dodson at hotmail.com>
>CC: <license-discuss at opensource.org>
>Subject: Re: open source applications with closed source components
>Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 16:59:28 -0400
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>On Monday, July 15, 2002, at 03:30  PM, Bruce Dodson wrote:
>
>>Do your recipients have permission to distribute the two closed-source
>>frameworks freely with their apps?
>
>For the sake of argument, lets say that the closed-source frameworks have 
>to be purchased by the user.  So, to run the binary you have to buy a 
>closed-source operating system and two closed-source frameworks.  Nothings 
>stopping anyone from porting the source of my app to an open-source OS and 
>open-source frameworks.  It just hasn't been done yet.
>
>- Edwin
>
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