My understanding is that with LGPL, can I link and use an LGPL library for commercial use, as long as I don't copy code?
That make sense for programs you compile to binary, but what about JavaScript?
I want to use the Greybox plugin for JQuery in my commercial website but don't know how to do that legally since it's LGPL.
TL;DR A component licensed under LGPL can be used by closed source, proprietary software, both internally used and distributed, for free, with no effects on the software using the component.
The LGPL License (both versions) allows users of the licensed code to: Use the code commercially: Like GPL, LGPL imposes no conditions on using the code in software that's sold commercially.
LGPLv3 is the current version of the GNU Lesser General Public License. LGPLv2. 1 is an older version and not recommended by the Free Software Foundation for new projects anymore. Both licenses have the same intention, namely to protect the freedom of users to use and modify the software licensed under LGPL.
In brief: GPL is mostly for programs while LGPL is limited to software libraries. Whenever changes are made under GPL license, source codes are required and changes must also be licensed under GPL, while LGPL may allow non-GPL programs to link to libraries but must still provide source codes.
The LGPL basically requires (read the full license and FAQ for details):
(this is a very brief overview of the requirements, as they would apply to your situation; as I said, see the license and FAQ for more details)
To comply with (1), see the "Appendix: a convention for releasing free JavaScript programs" in the article The JavaScript Trap for a proposed convention for how to mention and link to the license of a JavaScript program.
To comply with (2), you could just serve the code up as-is. If you need to minify the code for performance reasons, you should include a link in a comment to the un-minified version of the code.
To comply with (3) in JavaScript, as long as you keep the code in a separate script file, and don't merge it into one file with your code, you should be fine. Anyone who wants to replace it could use Greasemonkey or UserJS to do so.
You can use and distribute LGPL libraries on your website and use them in combination with commercial code. The only big restriction is that you must keep the library open source, including any modifications you make to it, and allow your users to obtain the source, licence and copyright information for the library.
You don't have to distribute your commercial code under the LGPL.
This is different to the GPL where you would have to distribute your code under the GPL too.
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