Hello,
Under the terms of the Apache Public License, can I use some (graphic) resources in my commercial app?
More specifically, in my (proprietary) Android app, I want to use some graphics from Android. Since Android is licensed under the Apache Public License, I downloaded the source and took the resources I wanted. But I was wondering, if I want to sell this app, or not release the source code, am I allowed? Do I have to put any notices in my app description?
Thanks, Isaac Waller
views:
380answers:
4
A:
The best answer is always to consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction. The answer to your question may well vary not only across countries, but across different jurisdictions within a country. People may give you general purpose answers or may give you their experience, but if you get sued, that will not comfort you.
Eddie
2009-03-21 00:57:05
Most single dev's or small startups don't have resources to consult or retain a lawyer, and even for those who do, lot of countries don't have lawyers who have any knowledge of software license law. I have attended a software law course ( one of the very few offered ) in my country and the professors teaching the course had no idea how to deal with open source license violations. Eddie's answer is a 'safe' answer and great in theory but not practical. As Amit Kumar's answer mentions, this link helps a lot.http://www.apache.org/foundation/licence-FAQ.html#WhatDoesItMEAN
Ingenutrix
2009-09-10 16:48:14
This was worth a -1? There's no way that "lot of countries don't have lawyers who have any knowledge of software license law." Maybe there aren't MANY, but only countries without law would have *NO* lawyers versed in the law. As to whether or not my answer is practical -- that may depend on circumstances and where you are located. But a company that cannot afford a lawyer has much bigger problems than intellectual property law. In any case, no legal answer on SO is going to be or can be authoritative. This is the wrong place to look for anything other than very general advice about the law.
Eddie
2009-09-11 21:32:50
+5
A:
As per their FAQ there should not be any problem if you attribute the resources to them by including their license file. However, I am a layman and not a lawyer.
Amit Kumar
2009-03-21 12:46:34
+2
A:
I'm not really sure how Apache Public differs from Apache License 2.0. I know software like APR and a lot of java libraries are licensed under it and they have been used in comercial products.
Just to be sure maybe it's easier to contact google and ask than contact a lawyer.
Vasil
2009-03-21 12:59:25
A:
If you're using some of the graphics from the Android SDK in an Android app why don't you just link to them instead of copying them? Then you won't have to concern yourself with the licenses.
From Java source you can reference:
android.R.drawable.whatever
or, from XML:
@android:drawable/whatever
fiXedd
2009-06-11 06:43:43