What kind of plugin needs to follow the GPL licensing.

• Jul 28, 2023 - 21:52

As long as musescore is imported into the plugin, does it need to follow the GPL licensing ?For example, in my plugin example, does it have to follow the GPL protocol. Can introducing QT alone not follow GPL?
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Comments

msfp

• Jul 29, 2023 - 03:10

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.en.html

Not a lawyer.

These alone will not mandate GPL :

write "import MuseScore 3.0"
import Qt modules
your programming language is QML
opensource or upload your work onto musescore.org/plugins
modify GPL licensed material but do not propagate (aka distribute) the new derivative work to the public

Must use GPL when both are true:

modification to a GPL licensed software is created as an upgrade or an integral part, so that when you remove the modified part, the remaining program will no longer work.
- Does musescore software work after you remove your plugin?
- (if any) Does the GPL plugin code bits you copy and paste into your plugin work after you remove all of the new codes you added?
you propagate (aka distribute) the new derivative work to the public.

Freedom to use dual license
If the old code bits continue to work without your new code bits, you use GPL for that old code bits, and are free to choose a separate license for your new code bits. Like you created two independent programs.

Deakon

• Jul 29, 2023 - 14:01

Thank you for your answer. If I use a large number of Musescore Plugins APIs and disseminate them to the public. However, this plugin only modifies the content of the music score (MSCZ) and does not affect the normal operation of the Musescore software at all. Is this plugin generally required to comply with GPL?

yonah_ag

• Jul 29, 2023 - 15:47

For imported code you need to adhere to its licensing but for your own code you can use whatever license suits you, including copyleft.

See https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html

Some plugin developers write their own license.