Reselling an R project

Question

I started working on a project for data analysis. It is becoming quite powerful and I am interested in making it available for sale. However, one of the many components of the analysis process includes the use of R. R has a GPL License (not LGPL).

What are the best options for making the system available for sale? I have considered the following options:

• (A) Install R with the software.
• (B) Require the user has R installed themselves.
• (C) Port the R portion of my code into S or S+ (not sure if I can just create a re-sellable binary, but maybe the porting process is very easy.)
• (D) Port the R portion of my code into C++ or Java. (expensive endeavor)

The GPL license states:

Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not covered
by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of running the Program
is not restricted, and the output from the Program is covered only if its
contents constitute a work based on the Program.  (independent of having been
made by running the Program)

It sounds like I can use option A and have my software run an R script without having to GPL my whole system. It sounds like I could even retain a copyright on my own R script. Am I reading that right? I would also like to know if anyone has seen or used a commercial program that legally uses GPL software in some way.

IMHO: I really wish everything was just released with a BSD or LGPL license. Then I don't mind contributing because I know everyone can use my work commercially in the future. I honestly can't understand the intent of GPL. Software developers have to pay bills somehow..hopefully by not re-inventing something already in GPL. :)

Answer 1

First I would recommend that you search the R mailing list. There was some debate about this a few months ago. You will find the posts with this command

RSiteSearch("GPL")

But I think that your option B should not be a problem. Some R packages have commercial licenses so that should not be a problem.

Answer 2

The license of R, the GPL, affects the licenses under which you can or must distribute your software only if your software is a derived work of R. This is the case if you use code of R in your software or if you link it as a library.

If all you do is run a R script in an external R software and use the output of this run in your software, your software is not a derived work and you can license it any way you want.

You say:

sounds like I could even retain a copyright on my own R script.

This is always the case. Even if you were forced to license your software under the GPL you'd retain the copyright for the code you wrote. The GPL does and can not make you give up your copyright.