[R] Using R in commercial application

[Marc Schwartz]

On Sep 14, 2011, at 8:57 AM, Uwe Ligges wrote:

> 
> 
> On 14.09.2011 14:36, snassimr wrote:
>> 
>> Hi ,
>> 
>> I want to use a several R packages to generate some results and take them to
>> my own application.
>> 
>> This application would be sold .
>> 
>> If there is some references can help me : from legal and development point
>> of view , i.e. how to integrate R with Java or .Net application
> 
> Read the licenses of the software you want to use (there may be various licenses involved if you want to use several R packages). If that does not help, ask your lawyer for help.
> 
> Best,
> Uwe Ligges


I would augment Uwe's recommendation to contact a lawyer familiar with open source software licenses and the integration of open source applications in the commercial software arena. Since you appear to not be familiar with the issues involved and as Uwe noted, there may be multiple licenses, you need to have the expertise of someone intimately familiar with these details. Some of the packages that you are looking at might even have licenses that preclude commercial use.

The exact nature of the integration (eg. linking to R libs) and whether or not you plan to open source your commercial application, are but a few of the issues to consider.

If you proceed naively down this path, without clear legal guidance, you can place yourself and your employer (if that is not you) at legal and financial risk.

Marc Schwartz