Derived Licensing Issues (LGPL)

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Alboin
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Derived Licensing Issues (LGPL)

Post by Alboin »

I'm writing program X. However, I run into a small wall. I look to library Y (Which is LGPL.) for guidance. They use a mathematical formula. (let's say x_b-(a/a)+1) I discover said formula from their code, and use it in my code. I don't actually use any of their code, just the formula. (In fact, I do it in a very different way.)

Does this count as derived work? I don't believe it does, because for example, if it did, everything that decoded a PNG would be at the mercy of the license of libpng.

Am I right in my assumptions?
Thanks.

By the by, these are the pieces of code:

This is from SDL_ttf:

Code: Select all

	rdiff = fg.r - bg.r;
	gdiff = fg.g - bg.g;
	bdiff = fg.b - bg.b;

	for( index = 0; index < NUM_GRAYS; ++index ) {
		palette->colors[index].r = bg.r + (index*rdiff) / (NUM_GRAYS-1);
		palette->colors[index].g = bg.g + (index*gdiff) / (NUM_GRAYS-1);
		palette->colors[index].b = bg.b + (index*bdiff) / (NUM_GRAYS-1);
	}
And this is mine:

Code: Select all

SetForeground(Color(background.color.red+(b.image[_h][_w]*(foreground.color.red-background.color.red)/b.grays),     
background.color.green+(b.image[_h][_w]*(foreground.color.green-background.color.green)/b.grays),
background.color.blue+(b.image[_h][_w]*(foreground.color.blue-background.color.blue)/b.grays)));
(Sorry for the formatting.)
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Brynet-Inc
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Post by Brynet-Inc »

I think you're safe, AFAIK it's legal to "look" at someones work and re-implement your findings...

Linux teams tend to look at BSD drivers for information... and that likely goes both ways.. Just don't copy & paste.. 8)

Not sure of the legality in the USA though.. damn software patents :roll:
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Post by Alboin »

Awesome....

Hello xlib and Freetype. (Without xft. 8) )
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Post by SpooK »

If you reimplemented a mathematical formula and the code is significantly/obviously unique, all you should worry about is what possible patents might be associated with that formula.
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Post by Brynet-Inc »

SpooK wrote:If you reimplemented a mathematical formula and the code is significantly/obviously unique, all you should worry about is what possible patents might be associated with that formula.
Please stop dragging American illusions into other cultures ;)
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Post by SpooK »

Brynet-Inc wrote:
SpooK wrote:If you reimplemented a mathematical formula and the code is significantly/obviously unique, all you should worry about is what possible patents might be associated with that formula.
Please stop dragging American illusions into other cultures ;)
There are no illusions, as patents are a reality and he may be interested in not violating any that are enforced within his jurisdiction.
Last edited by SpooK on Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Alboin
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Post by Alboin »

SpooK wrote:
Brynet-Inc wrote:
SpooK wrote:If you reimplemented a mathematical formula and the code is significantly/obviously unique, all you should worry about is what possible patents might be associated with that formula.
Please stop dragging American illusions into other cultures ;)
There are no illusions, as patents are a reality and he may be interested in not violating any that are enforced within his jurisdiction.
No, no. I don't believe it's patented. (At least, according to the guys at Freetype.) Thanks though!
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Post by Candy »

SpooK wrote:
Brynet-Inc wrote:
SpooK wrote:If you reimplemented a mathematical formula and the code is significantly/obviously unique, all you should worry about is what possible patents might be associated with that formula.
Please stop dragging American illusions into other cultures ;)
There are no illusions, as patents are a reality and he may be interested in not violating any that are enforced within his jurisdiction.
Software patents are no more than an illusion in most jurisdictions.
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