{"action":"created","issue":{"url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541","labels_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541/labels{/name}","comments_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541/comments","events_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541/events","html_url":"https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541","id":97806174,"number":2541,"title":"Licensing issue on ReadMe","user":{"login":"Jnesselr","id":1546215,"avatar_url":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/1546215?v=3","gravatar_id":"","url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr","html_url":"https://github.com/Jnesselr","followers_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/followers","following_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/following{/other_user}","gists_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/gists{/gist_id}","starred_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/starred{/owner}{/repo}","subscriptions_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/subscriptions","organizations_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/orgs","repos_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/repos","events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/events{/privacy}","received_events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/Jnesselr/received_events","type":"User","site_admin":false},"labels":[],"state":"open","locked":false,"assignee":null,"milestone":null,"comments":2,"created_at":"2015-07-28T21:31:48Z","updated_at":"2015-07-28T22:27:35Z","closed_at":null,"body":"I've noticed some issues with license infringement and some discussion on ticket #2524 which is a bit frightening to me. I'd like to clear up a few things, and bring up an issue about the ReadMe as well.\r\n\r\nFirst of all, a machine does not have to have any part of it open sourced to be compliant with the Marlin license. In actuality, they don't even technically have to release the firmware, unless asked. Now, because of the way Marlin configuration works, you could argue that they are modifying and distributing the software. This does not mean their entire design has to be open source. This only applies to the firmware being used.\r\n\r\nIf the board being used is GPL, and they've made no modifications to it at all (say they bought a bunch of RAMPS boards to use), then they don't have to release the source, but they do have to say that they're using that board and they have to be willing to give you the source and license. Technically, they're supposed to distribute the license with the software/hardware as they're distributing it. That is a problem that we have currently, and something I'd like to help rectify.\r\n\r\nAs for the ReadMe, the License section says that Marlin is not to be used on any machine that is closed source. As I've already pointed out, their use of open source software does not require the entire machine to be open sourced, simply that this software and any modifications must be released. If no modifications were made, then they only have to specify that they're using Marlin, and give the license used. This statement is also not enforceable, and I think does more harm than good. If you're a closed source company and you see this statement, then you're more likely not to release Marlin's source code because you know the Marlin group isn't going to be happy with you for doing it.\r\n\r\ntl;dr: The project creators released this under GPL, and so GPL it is. The sentence in the readme about not using it in closed source software has to change to being a preference or go completely.\r\n\r\nAlso, https://tldrlegal.com/license/gnu-general-public-license-v3-%28gpl-3%29"},"comment":{"url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/comments/125770750","html_url":"https://github.com/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541#issuecomment-125770750","issue_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/MarlinFirmware/Marlin/issues/2541","id":125770750,"user":{"login":"eboston","id":8252789,"avatar_url":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/8252789?v=3","gravatar_id":"","url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston","html_url":"https://github.com/eboston","followers_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/followers","following_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/following{/other_user}","gists_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/gists{/gist_id}","starred_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/starred{/owner}{/repo}","subscriptions_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/subscriptions","organizations_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/orgs","repos_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/repos","events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/events{/privacy}","received_events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/eboston/received_events","type":"User","site_admin":false},"created_at":"2015-07-28T22:27:35Z","updated_at":"2015-07-28T22:27:35Z","body":"While not directly stated in the actual terms and conditions, it is recommended that each source file carries an appropriate copyright notice.  Samples are shown after section 17 [here](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.en.html).\r\n\r\nHowever, section 0 does state that any interactive user interface must display \"Appropriate Legal Notices.\"  It's been awhile since I fired up my display, but I don't think what is displayed meets the requirement."}}