[mythtv] Help!! (GPL License applies to plugins)

[Adrian Wilkins]

> Subject: Re: [mythtv] Help!!
> To: Development of MythTV<mythtv-dev at mythtv.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<CANpj82K3p22KvOKwGMo9Ns739XEk_F6AfxyCuEaJw-hX=eBi-Q at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On 16 October 2011 02:37, Daniel Kristjansson<danielk at cuymedia.net>  wrote:
>> >  The plugin will be governed by the General Public Licence version 2,
>> >  The license is also included in the MythTV source code in a file
>> >  called "COPYING", and is also available in html form here:
>> >  ?http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 >
> even for plugin you develop yourself?

The license is all about distribution.

If you develop a plugin for your own use, you are under no obligation to 
distribute the sources for that plugin unless you distribute that 
plugin. So merely writing a plugin does not mean you have any obligation 
to distribute the source code to anyone, including the MythTV project.

However, if you distribute the plugin, the license compels you to either 
distribute sources with it, or offer to do so, for anyone in receipt of 
that plugin. Note that this again, doesn't have to be the MythTV project 
- only those in receipt of your plugin have a right to receive the code 
under the license. But they are also bound by this responsibility and 
may also chose to distribute your plugin, along with its source code. 
You cannot legally prevent this under the terms of the license.

Of course, many people developing code based on GPL code for their own 
purposes find it advantageous to contribute the code back to the 
original project. Not only do you get a free backup, and remove the 
overhead of having to integrate your patches into your own build, often 
people expand upon it, and fix bugs in it, at no additional cost to 
yourself.