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List:       koffice-devel
Subject:    Apache POI License
From:       TJ Mather <tjmather () maxmind ! com>
Date:       2002-12-14 21:24:10
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A little while back, we were discussing the possibility of using Apache
POI, and the issue of the Apache license being compatible with the LGPL 
came up.  After mailing a couple of licensing mailing lists, and 
re-reading the LGPL license, it appears that the licenses are compatible.

Would it be OK to go ahead with the Apache POI KSpread Excel export 
filter?

Here's why it appears that the licenses are compatible and Apache POI can 
be used by KSpread:

From the source, the LGPL license:
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html
Since the Apache POI library contains no code from KSpread, it is 
considered "work that uses the Library", and falls under sections 5 and 6 
of the LGPL, which allow for linking non-LGPL libraries, under a certain 
set of conditions.

KDE Licensing Mail List:
http://lists.kde.org/?l=kde-licensing&m=103898177106693&w=2

I got one response, (to my e-mail, not on the list):
"Indeed, this is what the LGPL is meant for. I assume the Apache license 
is OK too."

Debian Legal Mail List:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2002/debian-legal-200211/msg00301.html

There was one reply to the list, saying it should be OK, and suggesting
that we use the BSD license for the filter to be extra sure that the 
licenses would be compatible.

I also e-mailed the Free Software Foundation's, and haven't heard back 
from them (I'm sure they are busy).

Thanks,
TJ

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