Can I sell an original p5.js program that would be used in a commercial website?

johnclavin

I seems that with Processing it would be ok, but with p5.js the commercial website would have to imbed the p5.min.js file in their website. Maybe that would be a problem. Would any notices about it being p5.js need to be added to the commercial website? I have read all the legal docs, but this situation is not clear.

GoToLoop

Both p5.js & Processing Java share the same LGPL2.1 license:

1. https://GitHub.com/processing/p5.js/blob/master/license.txt
2. https://GitHub.com/processing/processing/blob/master/license.txt

As for any GPLed-license program, you only need to reveal its source text if you distribute it modified.
And b/c it's LGPL, your code can freely use p5.js as a library w/o being obliged to reveal its source text.

P.S.: Commercial use is completely OK w/ GPLed software.
Only the source code must be revealed and allowed to be modified by n1! B-)

johnclavin

Thanks for responding and your knowledge on the subject, but could I get a yes or no answer to my original question? Legal language is hard to understand.

Also, I would be using the unmodified p5.min.js file on the commercial website that would work in conjunction with my original composition file, myprogram.js. So do I need to post any source code or license information?

GoToLoop

You can do whatever you want w/ your own program.
For p5.js I think you just need to mention its license and post its repo's link.

jeremydouglass

This seems like questions about commercial use should be an FAQ entry at this point.

Related previous posts.

• https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/23208/can-i-sell-devices-with-a-processing-application-without-releasing-my-source-code
• https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/22722/can-processing-be-used-if-you-are-planning-to-sell-a-game
• https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/22722/can-processing-be-used-if-you-are-planning-to-sell-a-game
• https://forum.processing.org/two/discussion/22307/legal-rights-law-etc

johnclavin

"For p5.js I think you just need to mention its license and post its repo's link."

At some point it would be nice to have this cleared up. Is this necessary and how would it be implemented?

GoToLoop

Well, you can have a "License" or "Disclaimer" section on your site. *-:)

blindfish

@johnclavin - legalese is hard to read but usually these licences apply solely to the code in the library itself. So if you make changes to the library you must release it on the same terms; but the licence doesn't cover code that simply makes use of it (i.e. your sketch code) (from what I can see the only exception is if you embed library code directly within your own - not likely in this case).

If you host a version of the library you should preserve the licence in the code (usually in comments at the top of the source file). If you host the .min version or link from a CDN you've got nothing to worry about. If you're running your code through a minifier you need to ensure it doesn't strip the licence comments.

I see nothing to imply that you should make any mention of it on web pages displaying content that uses the library; so whilst GoToLoop's suggestion is good in terms of recognising and promoting p5's use I don't believe it's a requirement.

I'm not a lawyer though; so don't quote me on any of the above :P