PEAR and GPL? Possible?

Im starting work on a Forum software using a few PEAR Packages, other GPLed software, and alot of my own coding. I was wondering if it was possible to use the PEAR Packages in my Forum if I release it under the GPL? The ones Im talking about are ones released under the PHP License. Is it possible? Iv Googled around a bit and couldnt find a definitive answer anywhere.

Thanks.

Moved from the PHP Development forum, since this seems to be a question about licensing and legal issues....

According to the Free Software Foundation, the PHP License is not compatible with the GPL as they both currently are. If you wanted to, you could include the PHP-licensed code within your GPL'd application, but only with explicit permission from the copyright holder(s). As it stands, you cannot do so otherwise.

I also was wanting do use a few PEAR packages have instead started writing my own for a simple forum system I'm writing due to this incompatibility. It makes for a better learning experience, that's for sure.

every Pear libary has a license attached.. best to read up on them

most say, your free to use them and distrubute as you like as long as you don't charge for them and you must keep all the authors documentation/comments through out the code.


i'm assuming you won't be charging for the forum system, so i can't see why it would be a problem... just make mention of the libaries you use... the guys from Pear put a heap of work into developing simple libaries for us, thats the least we can do

So id have to email the developers of the particular PEAR Packages and ask for permission to use them in my GPLed forum?



I liked these packages because they did exactly what I wanted, without too much excess stuff. Today during school I was thinking about writing my own for my forum, so that there would be no way to have to hassle over licenses and stuff. Id also be more familiar with the code and how it works.

For now, in the early stages of development, im going to focus on the core stuff while still using the PEAR packages. Then when the time comes to rewrite them, id keep the method names and whatnot, then all I would have to change is the actual class file.

That's my understanding of it, yes.

One way I've seen other products handle the PEAR/PHP license issue is by listing the packages as requirements, leaving the end user responsible for obtaining and installing them. That would be a definite option for you to explore.

I was thinking that as well. The only problem I see is if I require some changes to the original packages. Would I be able to offer the altered packages on my website for download without conflicting with the PHP License?

Also, would having the forum installer grab the packages from my host and insert them to the right directory be conflicting with the license? Of course thatd be a little troublesome, but just trying to make things a little easier for the enduser.

you would have to contact the author, and submit the package with alterations to the PEAR project..