WebGuru Publisher CMS License FAQ
What license does WebGuru Publisher CMS use?
The GNU General Public License Version 2. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Within the context of this FAQ, "GNU GPL" and "GPL" refer to the GNU General Public License Version 2.
What is the difference between the GPL and the LGPL?
The GNU GPL is intended to be used for applications whereas the GNU LGPL is intended to be used for application libraries. The WebGuru Publisher CMS Content Management System is an entire application that utilizes a multitude of libraries, both GPL and LGPL, and thus is licensed under the GPL license.
Where can I read more about the license?
The GNU General Public License: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
The GNU GPL Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html
The philosophy behind the GNU: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/
What is the definition of Open Source/Free Software?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software
What is meant by "voluntary compliance?"
We want all parties to come into compliance with our license, as it strengthens our ability to defend and protect WebGuru Publisher CMS We do not have the will nor the means to go after everyone who violates our license nor do we intend to. We are asking the community to voluntarily comply with the GPL.
What is the difference between "commercial" and "proprietary"?
Commercial software means that there is some sort of commercial activity surrounding that software. It could be a business that develops it and charges money for distribution, support, documentation, customization, etc. Commercial software is not necessarily proprietary software and proprietary software is not necessarily commercial software. Proprietary software means that you do not have the right to copy, modify, and redistribute that software.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_software
Does the license allow someone to sell a copy of WebGuru Publisher CMS?
Yes. The Preamble of the GNU GPL states "when we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things."
Also see: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney
Can I remove the WebGuru Publisher CMS Copyright notice in the footer region (and other related questions)?
Yes, you can remove the WebGuru Publisher CMS copyright notices from any part of the output that the WebGuru Publisher CMS application generates. You may not remove the copyright notice from the source code itself.
Can I remove the WebGuru Publisher CMS Copyright notice in the Meta information of a WebGuru Publisher CMS website?
Yes, you can remove the copyright notices from any part of the output that the WebGuru Publisher CMS application generates. You may not remove the copyright notice from the source code itself.
What should I do if I find a possible violation of the GPL?
You should report the possible violation to the appropriate copyright holders. If you believe someone is violating the GPL license of the people who develop the WebGuru Publisher CMS project please report the violation by e-mail to . This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Does the license allow someone to sell an extension ?
Yes. The Preamble of the GNU GPL states "when we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price. Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and that you know you can do these things."
Also see: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0-faq.html#DoesTheGPLAllowMoney
Does the license allow someone to encrypt an extension?
Yes, technically, but the distributor must provide access to the complete and unencrypted source code by either including it in the package or by making it available for download. The distributor must provide access "for a charge no more than [their] cost of physically performing source distribution."
Can I release an extension under a non-GPL licence?
It is our opinion that most extensions are derivative works of WebGuru Publisher CMS and must be licensed under the GNU GPL. It is possible that an extension could work within WebGuru Publisher CMS and not be considered a derivative work according to copyright law but this would have to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you believe your extension is not a derivative work we strongly recommend that you seek professional legal advice.
How does the treatment of templates differ from the treatment of components, modules, addons, and plugins?
In our opinion, templates are composite packages that consist of both code elements and non-code elements. We believe that the code elements of a template must be licensed under the GNU GPL because they are derivative works. However, the non-code elements are just data acted upon by the software and may be licensed in any way the author sees fit. The non-code elements include elements like Images, Movies, Animations, CSS and formatting markup.
Please see: "Does JavaScript included in templates and extensions need to be licensed under the GPL? " and "Does the CSS in my template need to be licensed under the GPL? "
What is the difference between a bridge to another package and an extension?
A bridge links WebGuru Publisher CMS to an external application so that they can exchange data and cooperate. On the WebGuru Publisher CMS side of the bridge, the bridge is treated just like a component, module, or plugin; it must comply with the GPL unless it is a separate work (and some bridges might indeed be separate works).
If the external application is separate enough from WebGuru Publisher CMS that it is a separate work under copyright law, it may be licensed under whatever license the holder of its copyright sees fit.
Does the CSS in my template need to be licensed under the GPL?
Not unless it is based on work that is licensed under the GNU GPL.
Does JavaScript included in templates and extensions need to be licensed under the GPL?
Not unless it is based on work that is licensed under the GNU GPL.
If I include a module in a template, does it need to be under the GPL license?
Generally, yes. See "Can I release an extension under a non-GPL license? "
I purchased a copy of an extension that violates the WebGuru Publisher CMS licence. Can I now distribute it under the GPL?
No. You should report the violation to the appropriate copyright holders.
Can I offer a hosted service with my custom, proprietary extensions?
Yes. The GNU GPL does not apply until you attempt to distribute your custom extensions to an outside party. If you decide to distribute your extensions, they will need to be licensed under the GNU GPL.
WebGuru Publisher CMS License
Copyright (C) 2008 Ondřej Rafaj - Fuerte.cz This program (WebGuru Publisher CMS) is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details. You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
