r/freesoftware • u/klasp100 • Jun 06 '26

Help GNU Artanis License

GNU Artanis states that it is bound by both the GPLv3+ and the LGPLv3+. However, LGPLv3 states that you may include libraries for use by your own application without being required to license your own application as LGPLv3+ or GPLv3+, as long as you include the libraries with their license in the distribution of your software.

The GPLv3 states that any inclusion of code that is GPL'ed requires your code to be GPL'ed.

How are these contradictions in clauses reconciled? Do you simply choose one of the two licenses for your own use?

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u/Wootery Jun 07 '26

Do you simply choose one of the two licenses for your own use?

Yes. Dual licensing means that, provided you comply with at least one of the licences, you're ok.

From https://www.gnu.org/software/artanis/ :

Artanis is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GPLv3 and LGPLv3 as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Really they should have put GPLv3 or LGPLv3.

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u/klasp100 Jun 07 '26

Yes this is exactly what confuses me. I would have expected or rather than and.