Question about GPL

[ertaboy356b]

Ok, so I am tasked to create a real-time activity monitoring system. For this system, I need to write a complicated socket server that does a lot of things. So far I've looked in the internet for several guides but sadly, I don't understand most of them (I'm not very good at networking). So I decided to go look for a free library so I can create the socket server faster and more secure. Finally I found this, http://www.networkcomms.net/.

When I opened the readme file, it has this in the LICENSING part:

LICENSING: This library is made freely available under the terms of the GPL. If you are unsure what that
means please find out. We make our living from writing software so if you intend to NetworkComms.Net for
proprietary software we kindly ask you purchase a commercial licence. More information can be found here
http://www.networkcomms.net/licensing/

No I'm wondering, what does proprietary software means?? Does the company I'm working on required to buy the library?? I'm not writing the program to sell it. I'm writing the program that is for company used and only for company used. Which means that this will be a specialized program and less generic.

Note: I'm using C#.

 

[PurgeandFire]

Proprietary software: software that is licensed with restrictions. Particularly when it comes to modifying the software, sharing/redistributing the software, or reverse engineering it. In most cases, the software is closed source.

As far as legalities go, you should be fine. You can even sell programs under GPL, but the major factor of GPL is that it has copyleft protection (not copyright. copyleft). Copyleft means that if you use a GPL licensed script/framework, anywhere in your code, then your program/code/framework must also follow GPL. Essentially, it should be open-source and you should grant the user permission to do whatever they want with it. A lot of people refer to GPL as a virus. If one thing uses GPL, then anything that touches it must also follow GPL. Pain in the ass.

Most companies won't put their sources up on github or anything. Instead, they use what is known as a written offer. It basically means that if someone requests the source, you must provide them with it. Here is a sample "written offer" by Oracle:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19474-01/html/E28359/glnqt.html

Now, if you are using this within the company and only within the company, you don't have to worry about it too much unless you think someone is going to double-cross you. Even then, you are pretty much okay as long as you don't restrict what the user can do and published the source. Here is a very, very friendly summary of GPL 3:
http://www.tldrlegal.com/license/gnu-general-public-license-v3-(gpl-3)

All that networkcomms says is, if you can't follow GPL 3 for whatever reason, then you can purchase a commercial license. I'm assuming that package does not have GPL, so you won't have to follow GPL at all.

 

[ertaboy356b]

OK thanks, guess I'll be using it then.

 

[monoVertex]

If it's for in-company use and not commercial use, then you can use it without any troubles.

However, if the company decides to sell this software you are making, then yes, they should buy the commercial license.

However, why do you care? Stuff like this is the company's issue, not really yours.