By skinhat on

I'm writing game modules where I take GPL licensed javascript and convert it into a drupal module (eg http://drupal.org/tetris).

I'd like to create a chess module and have found some public domain javascript code (http://p4wn.sourceforge.net/) for playing chess against the computer. I am wondering is it ok to use public domain code or does it have to be GPL?

Comments

scoutbaker’s picture

scoutbaker commented

If you're creating modules for your own use, you can use whatever code you like (within the limitations of the applicable license). If you are talking about writing modules that you want to publish on drupal.org, then all of the code needs to be GPL.

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"Nice to meet you Rose...run for your life." - The Doctor
My first public Drupal site - EyeOnThe503

vm’s picture

vm commented

I'm not sure that answers the OP's question.

The javascript the OP wants to use in a drupal.module for distribution on drupal.org is public domain. He wants to write and distribute the module on Drupal.org, thus he will release it as GPL. The javascript has no copyright, hence public domain. I assume, maybe wrongly, that because it is public domain it also has no license.

The problematic part of this seems to be, can the OP include the public domain javascript in the module in a drupal.module for distribution.

As a side note: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=GPL+chess+script&aq=f&oq=

lists some GPL chess scripts

scoutbaker’s picture

scoutbaker commented

I think it does answer the OP's question. According to Maintain a project...:

Please note that all code which is committed into the Drupal CVS repository must be covered under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2 or greater; the same as Drupal itself.

If the JS code is not GPL, it can't be hosted here. There have been issued posted about various modules. I also remember there is one instance of an external library (or somesuch) which is allowed since the developer has issued it under a dual license, one of which is GPL v2; that dual license allowed it to be stored in the d.o repository.

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"Nice to meet you Rose...run for your life." - The Doctor
My first public Drupal site - EyeOnThe503

dman’s picture

dman commented

first,
Lack of copyright notice does not mean Public Domain automatically. Only a copyright notice saying that all rights are revoked would make that safe.

Second.
If you have established that the code or library is totally free of restriction - a genuine "do what thou wilt" license - then it follows that you are free to add it to your GPL module and redistribute as such.
To answer the OP if the code us declared to be unrestricted then yes, you can add it to a GPL project.

From the source site:

The code is now in the public domain. That means you can do whatever you want with it; there is no copyright

So yes - that can be enveloped in a GPL package no problem!

If it contains any restrictions - including just requiring an attribution notice - then no, it's not valid for inclusion without extra permission from the source/author.

The term Public Domain is used a little loosely in some contexts, but really means it's released with no conditions. Its weakness is that such code can be locked up into other more restrictive licenses - although that doesn't remove the original from circulation.

... I think, anyway.

.dan.
if you are asking a question you think should be documented, please provide a link to the handbook where you think the answer should be found.
| http://www.coders.co.nz/ |

.dan. is the New Zealand Drupal Developer working on Government Web Standards

skinhat’s picture

skinhat commented

Thats what I would have thought. That public domain means you can do anything to someones code including modifying public domain code and then adding your own license to it eg GPL.

skinhat’s picture

skinhat commented

I am talking about your second point ie publishing on drupal.org. I wonder if code can have dual licenses. Might ask if the writer (Douglas Bagnall) can make his code GPL as well as public domain. Possibly there would be a conflict.

scoutbaker’s picture

scoutbaker commented

There is at least one project with external code that has been issued under a dual license. From what I saw, it sounds like it had a discussion regarding whether it would be allowed or not, so hopefully someone with more history here than I have will be able to chime in on that subject.

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"Nice to meet you Rose...run for your life." - The Doctor
My first public Drupal site - EyeOnThe503