[R] Making a new package: licence

[Federico Calboli]

On 8 Jul 2011, at 15:56, Spencer Graves wrote:
>> Ok, thanks for that. I though that, since R in under GPL-v2, I can only release my code under GPL-v2 because the code is written in R and probably qualifies as a derivative work.
> 
>      Did you include someone else's GPL-vx code (possibly modified by you) as part of your code in a way that someone could claim that your code does NOT have a useful functionality and independent existence without that?  

Nope. Nevertheless my code would not have a functionality without R, hence I feel GPL v2, the same R is under, is appropiate for my package.

Bw

F


> I'm not an attorney, but I have read the GPL and discussed it with attorneys, and it's my understanding that the definition of "derivative work" encompasses essentially what I just described.  Another example:  According to the Wikipedia article on Linux, the (first) GPL was written for the GNU Linux project.  In that context, you can NOT charge someone for Linux nor for any modification of it you may make, because such modifications would make it a derivative work.  However, if you can run your own code written in whatever language under Linux, because presumably your code has an existence independent of Linux and could theoretically run (with modifications) on some other operating system.
> 
> 
>       Hope this helps.
>      Spencer
> 
>> 
>> On uploading the new version (a matter of days), I will specify the GPL version.
>> 
>> Bw
>> 
>> Federico
>> 
>> 
>>> Duncan Murdoch
>>> 
>>>> bw
>>>> 
>>>> Federico
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Federico C. F. Calboli
>>>> Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
>>>> Imperial College, St. Mary's Campus
>>>> Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG
>>>> 
>>>> Tel +44 (0)20 75941602   Fax +44 (0)20 75943193
>>>> 
>>>> f.calboli [.a.t] imperial.ac.uk
>>>> f.calboli [.a.t] gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>> ______________________________________________
>>>> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
>>>> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
>>>> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
>>>> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
>> --
>> Federico C. F. Calboli
>> Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
>> Imperial College, St. Mary's Campus
>> Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG
>> 
>> Tel +44 (0)20 75941602   Fax +44 (0)20 75943193
>> 
>> f.calboli [.a.t] imperial.ac.uk
>> f.calboli [.a.t] gmail.com
>> 
>> ______________________________________________
>> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
>> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
>> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
>> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
> 

--
Federico C. F. Calboli
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Imperial College, St. Mary's Campus
Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG

Tel +44 (0)20 75941602   Fax +44 (0)20 75943193

f.calboli [.a.t] imperial.ac.uk
f.calboli [.a.t] gmail.com