[License-discuss] OSL and obfuscated code

Wed Nov 21 17:09:39 UTC 2018

Hi Antoine,

OSL 3.0 distinguishes carefully between the original software ("Original Work" = "PrestaShop") and other software. This is why I call it friendlier than the GPL.

Reciprocation (i.e., copyleft) is required for that Original Work and for its Derivative Works. Copyleft and source code disclosure is not required for independent software, even if that software links to or otherwise indirectly affects the functioning of the Original Work. You described that independent software as "an optional module, that users would download and install afterward." That is neither the Original Work nor a Derivative Work. 

John Cowan described that independent software correctly: "You can release it under whatever license you please, but a program released only with obfuscated source will never be an open source program, because of the Open Source Definition clause 2."

Best, /Larry

Lawrence Rosen

Rosenlaw ( <http://www.rosenlaw.com/> www.rosenlaw.com) 

LinkedIn: LawrenceRosen

3001 King Ranch Rd., Ukiah, CA 95482

Cell: 707-478-8932 

This email is licensed under  <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/> CC-BY-4.0. Please copy freely.  

From: Antoine Thomas <antoine.thomas at prestashop.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 8:36 AM
To: license-discuss at lists.opensource.org
Cc: lrosen at rosenlaw.com; Marine Dizol <marine.dizol at prestashop.com>
Subject: Re: [License-discuss] OSL and obfuscated code

So maybe we should wait for Larry Rosen to read and answer?

Precision: the module itself would not be distributed with the PrestaShop installer. It would be available as an optional module, that users would download and install afterward.

Of course, if the module is obfuscated, it is not open source. However, would it be possible to install it and run it with the core of a software distributed under OSL?

This is an interesting question regarding the "external deployment"  clause: it seems that a visitor of a website built with PrestaShop can ask for the source code. Should we consider that as a way of distribution, and then, any module or theme used to build a website with PrestaShop should also be available under an OSL compatible license?

If yes, this is not possible to add an obfuscated extension/module to a running OSL software. What do you think?

The point here is not only the distribution/download, but also the execution of the software.

 <https://www.prestashop.com/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_campaign=emails-signatures> 

Antoine Thomas aka ttoine

Developer Advocate

t: +33 (0)6 63 13 79 06

 <mailto:antoine.thomas at prestashop.com> antoine.thomas at prestashop.com

On Wed, 21 Nov 2018 at 17:14, Smith, McCoy <mccoy.smith at intel.com <mailto:mccoy.smith at intel.com> > wrote:

On Wed, Nov 21, 2018 at 10:54 AM Antoine Thomas <antoine.thomas at prestashop.com <mailto:antoine.thomas at prestashop.com> > wrote:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m reaching out as Open-source Advocate for PrestaShop which is the designer and editor of an open source software solution, released under a free license (Open Software Licence OSL-3.0), allowing its users to create e-commerce websites in a quick and simplified way.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m reaching out as Open-source Advocate for PrestaShop which is the designer and editor of an open source software solution, released under a free license (Open Software Licence OSL-3.0), allowing its users to create e-commerce websites in a quick and simplified way.

If you are looking for advice on using the OSL, you probably should consider retaining Larry Rosen to give you that advice, as he is the author of that license, and a member of this mailing list, and a lawyer.  

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