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> from a company that bans things like GPL apps from their App Store, which is what Apple does. AFAIR this is not exactly the case. Software using GPLed code

> from a company that bans things like GPL apps from their App Store, which is what Apple does. AFAIR this is not exactly the case. Software using GPLed code cannot be distributed via the apple App Store because of the GPL clause forbidding additional restrictions. The GPL is incompatible with the App Store license, just as it is for example with the old OpenSSL license. There’s nothing in the App Store rules that forbids GPL code, the restriction comes entirely from the GPL side. It’s a choice the developers of that code have made. However, if you hold other rights (for example the full Copyright or you entered a special license agreement with the creators of the GPL’ed code), you can distribute such an app via the App Store.

heavyset_go 6y ago
Apple could make exceptions for open-source software. The end result is that Apple will remove software from the App Store if they catch wind that it is GPL, and end users effectively can't use free software on their devices.
- Xylakant 6y ago
  How exactly would such an exception look like? The GPL would require that the user can take the binary they downloaded and redistribute it. Or change and recompile it and then run the changed binary. That’s all fundamentally impossible with the iOS App Store. The GPL is fundamentally at odds with a lot of things, for $reasons. For example, ruby could not be distributed with compiled-in OpenSSL support, until the developers adopted an OpenSSL linking exception. The GPL or the developers of the GPL’ed software could make an exception for app stores. But the developers have deliberately chosen a license that is incompatible with certain uses, including all app stores - it’s not only the apple App Store that is affected, all consoles for example are affected, too.
  - heavyset_go 6y ago
    > That’s all fundamentally impossible with the iOS App Store. There's absolutely no reason that Apple wouldn't be able to allow GPL apps legally on their app store. It's just a matter of Apple changing their own terms. > The GPL could make an exception for app stores No, it couldn't unless you have a time machine or the ability to get consent from the author every line of GPL code ever written to agree to relicense their code under these new terms. Apple doesn't even need to make exceptions for the GPL, it could just relax its policy or allow users to install whatever software they want.
    - Xylakant 6y ago
      That’s not a policy that can easily be changed. It’s a fundamental restriction of the entire system. There is no side loading on iOS devices unless you use a developer account. And that’s not going to change.
      - heavyset_go 6y ago
        The issue with the GPL is not the limitations Apple put in place on their platform, but the additional terms required for distribution in the App Store. This is the reason cited by Adium[1] and VLC[2] developers when their projects were removed for GPL violations. You can read more about those terms here[2], but they have nothing to do with the iOS security model. [1] http://adium.im/pipermail/devel_adium.im/2011-January/007973.html http://adium.im/pipermail/devel_adium.im/2011-January/007973... [2] https://www.engadget.com/2011-01-09-the-gpl-the-app-store-and-you.html https://www.engadget.com/2011-01-09-the-gpl-the-app-store-an...
        Xylakant 6y ago
        I don’t see how the “mike gives a copy to Steve who can then run it on his iOS device” can be made to work without side loading (steve can already download his own free copy from the App Store). The FSF seems to argue that this must be possible to be compliant, so yeah, that’s my point.
        Dylan16807 6y ago
        It wouldn't really affect Apple at all if they allow the sideloading of free apps that are already in the store.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]

heavyset_go 6y ago

Apple could make exceptions for open-source software. The end result is that Apple will remove software from the App Store if they catch wind that it is GPL, and end users effectively can't use free software on their devices.

Xylakant 6y ago
How exactly would such an exception look like? The GPL would require that the user can take the binary they downloaded and redistribute it. Or change and recompile it and then run the changed binary. That’s all fundamentally impossible with the iOS App Store. The GPL is fundamentally at odds with a lot of things, for $reasons. For example, ruby could not be distributed with compiled-in OpenSSL support, until the developers adopted an OpenSSL linking exception. The GPL or the developers of the GPL’ed software could make an exception for app stores. But the developers have deliberately chosen a license that is incompatible with certain uses, including all app stores - it’s not only the apple App Store that is affected, all consoles for example are affected, too.
- heavyset_go 6y ago
  > That’s all fundamentally impossible with the iOS App Store. There's absolutely no reason that Apple wouldn't be able to allow GPL apps legally on their app store. It's just a matter of Apple changing their own terms. > The GPL could make an exception for app stores No, it couldn't unless you have a time machine or the ability to get consent from the author every line of GPL code ever written to agree to relicense their code under these new terms. Apple doesn't even need to make exceptions for the GPL, it could just relax its policy or allow users to install whatever software they want.
  - Xylakant 6y ago
    That’s not a policy that can easily be changed. It’s a fundamental restriction of the entire system. There is no side loading on iOS devices unless you use a developer account. And that’s not going to change.
    - heavyset_go 6y ago
      The issue with the GPL is not the limitations Apple put in place on their platform, but the additional terms required for distribution in the App Store. This is the reason cited by Adium[1] and VLC[2] developers when their projects were removed for GPL violations. You can read more about those terms here[2], but they have nothing to do with the iOS security model. [1] http://adium.im/pipermail/devel_adium.im/2011-January/007973.html http://adium.im/pipermail/devel_adium.im/2011-January/007973... [2] https://www.engadget.com/2011-01-09-the-gpl-the-app-store-and-you.html https://www.engadget.com/2011-01-09-the-gpl-the-app-store-an...
      - Xylakant 6y ago
        I don’t see how the “mike gives a copy to Steve who can then run it on his iOS device” can be made to work without side loading (steve can already download his own free copy from the App Store). The FSF seems to argue that this must be possible to be compliant, so yeah, that’s my point.
        Dylan16807 6y ago
        It wouldn't really affect Apple at all if they allow the sideloading of free apps that are already in the store.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]