I found a great DAL and it is MIT licensed. Can I use this code without getting into trouble?
+12
A:
From Wikipedia:
It is a permissive license, meaning that it permits reuse within proprietary software on the condition that the license is distributed with that software.
As long as you don't pretend you wrote the code but you distribute and assign copyright correctly you won't get in trouble.
If you distribute the MIT code then you also need to ensure you distribute the license (thanks Neil for pointing that out).
Mike McQuaid
2009-08-31 16:41:01
You don't have to include the license with compiled code, only with the source. And you don't have to distribute the source.
anon
2009-08-31 17:07:07
Thanks Neil, added that in.
Mike McQuaid
2009-08-31 17:41:19
+4
A:
Odd question. Follow the license and you can use it. It's probably the most permissive and easiest to read and understand open source license out there.
Devin Ceartas
2009-08-31 16:41:16
I, for one, find reading some software licenses difficult. I'm a developer, not a lawyer.
Charlie Salts
2009-08-31 17:23:18
absolutely, me too. But this is the _easiest_ to read, if perhaps still not intuitive. Here's a reference for those who want to look: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
Devin Ceartas
2009-08-31 18:58:03
+1
A:
It depends. Probably not the answer you are looking for, but it really depends on your situation and employer.
However, you probably can use it. MIT is one of the licenses that is more compatible with commercial licensing. You can use it in your commercial applications, and you are not required to make your application open source as well (unlike the GPL).
Lance Fisher
2009-08-31 16:42:42
The bigger the company, the bigger the chance you'll have to go through a good number of hurdles with the legal team before (if ever) you're allowed to use it.
280Z28
2009-08-31 16:46:23