1 Topic by spocke

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Topic: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Anyone that want to use TinyMCE in their commercial application or website are free to do so.

Below are how we understand the leagal mumbo jumbo in the LGPL license and how we look at people and companies using TinyMCE in commercial systems.

* LGPL software is focused on libraries. And anything that uses LGPL libraries may or may not be commercial as long as the license of the library is not changed and the whole application with source is distributed with the product.

* Any modifications to the LGPL:ed library must be open source too.

* The bridge between the library and the application must be open source, or possible for a client to change. This is somewhat fuzzy but, with TinyMCE all HTML/PHP/JSP/ASP pages that use the editor are source code anyway.

* If you earn bundles of cash of you product that uses TinyMCE, it would be nice if you could donate some cash. So we may buy more beer and be more happy developing this application.

* It would be nice if you add the "Powered by TinyMCE" icons some where in the system or documentation or give us credit for our work in some other way.

So the conclusion is, we encourage people and companies to use TinyMCE in both open source systems aswell as commercial systems aslong as you give something back. :-)

Best regards,
Spocke

Best regards,
Spocke - Main developer of TinyMCE

spocke's Website

2 Reply by Ntier

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Hello,

Right now I believe that almost any existing html page can be edited with TinyMCE if a JavaScript link is inserted into the head tag. 

From then on, anyone who viewed the page could edit the page.
In general, my clients will only want certain people to edit the page. 

So, for TinyMCE to be useful to me, the JavaScript link should only be included on pages when specific users have requested to edit the page. 

Authentication before Editing:
===================
I don't see that as very difficult...
Some type of login, followed by an include statement if the user is authenticated. 


Authentication when Saving?
==================
The part that concerns me is the act of SAVING the edit.
Is it possible to trigger authentication when TinyMCE is saving?
I fear if I can't authenticate during the save, it will be possible for "script kiddies" to send "forged" SAVE requests without ever having to authenticate. 


Can you point me in the right direction? Guide my understanding specifically about security and who can edit?

In terms of end user, your TinyMCE product is exactly what I'm looking for.   

Thanks

3 Reply by bbaker

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Hi...i just started using TinyMCE a few days ago and I'm loving this!

I have a PHP/MySQL page set up where there I check to see if the page viewer is logged in as an admin (level 3 or 4)

If the viewer is an admin, it echos the textarea, thus triggering TinyMCE.

If the viewer is not an admin, it just echos the contents to the screen.

<?
if (($_SESSION['level']) == "3" || ($_SESSION['level']) == "4") {

$result = mysql_query("SELECT test FROM tinymce")or die (mysql_error()."<br />Couldn't execute query: $query");
    $row = mysql_fetch_array($result);

    $test = stripslashes($row['test']);

echo '
<form action="tinymcesave.php" name="form" method="post">
<textarea id="test" name="test" cols="75%" rows="20">'.$test.'</textarea>
</form>
';}
else { echo $test;}
?>

This way, not just any viewer can edit the page content. Has to be an admin.

I also have a check on the save page (tinymcesave.php)

<?
if (($_SESSION['level']) == "3" || ($_SESSION['level']) == "4") {

$test = addslashes($_POST['test']);

$sql = mysql_query("UPDATE tinymce SET test='$test' WHERE id='1'") or die(mysql_error());
        
$result = mysql_query("SELECT test FROM tinymce")or die (mysql_error()."<br />Couldn't execute query: $query");
    $row = mysql_fetch_array($result);
    $test = stripslashes($row['test']);
echo '<font color="red"><strong>RESULT</strong></font> <br /> ';
echo $test;}

else { echo'You do not have permission to view the contents of this page';}
?>

4 Reply by bclbob

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

* LGPL software is focused on libraries. And anything that uses LGPL libraries may or may not be commercial as long as the license of the library is not changed and the whole application with source is distributed with the product.

Best regards,
Spocke


Did you mean application or library - this is absolutely crucial. I was thinking about using tinyMCE in a Java JSP and I want to be certain this would not mean I have to license the jsp source and/or the whole application under the LGPL.

To me its similar to using java imports to a LGPL library. The FSF says here
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-java.html

The typical arrangement for Java is that each library an application uses is distributed as a separate JAR (Java Archive) file. Applications use Java's "import" functionality to access classes from these libraries. When the application is compiled, function signatures are checked against the library, creating a link. The application is a then generally a derivative work of the library. So, the copyright holder for the library must authorize distribution of the work. The LGPL permits this distribution.

If you distribute a Java application that imports LGPL libraries, it's easy to comply with the LGPL. Your application's license needs to allow users to modify the library, and reverse engineer your code to debug these modifications. This doesn't mean you need to provide source code or any details about the internals of your application. Of course, some changes the users may make to the library may break the interface, rendering the library unable to work with your application. You don't need to worry about that -- people who modify the library are responsible for making it work.

5 Reply by msams

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

I just downloaded 2.0.1 and although the title of the page is LGPL the license itself is the GPL license. Is this correct?

6 Reply by DiS

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Ntier wrote:

Authentication before Editing:
Authentication when Saving?

You realize, that most of the applications, where tinymce is used, are CMS systems with their own auth process -> auth in tinymce is useless...

DiS's Website

7 Reply by Duveaux

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Hi,

I just want to say that I'm really grateful for the availability of this software. I'm writing a commercial bulletin board system, but I wasn't capable of writing my own WYSIWYG. The way this software is integrable is incredible. I will most likely write a credit note for it in the appropriate folder.
If it's running, I will probably also donate some cash so you can keep this piece of software free! big_smile

phantomBoards creator!

Duveaux's Website

8 Reply by kreynen

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

I posted this same question as it's own topic, but didn't get a response. 

I maintain the TinyMCE module that enables TinyMCE in Drupal. Currently this is a 2 step process.  We've made a number of improvements to the module including using JQuery to initialize TinyMCE and an expert configuration option that allows more customization options than the previous GUI button picker. 

I have a question about GPL.  Currently the module is a two step process.  Download the module and then download TinyMCE from drupal.org and then download TinyMCE from moxiecode.com.  I'd like to include TinyMCE in the module download, but Drupal's CVS/project system automagically includes a GPL license in the gzip'ed tar files it creates. 

If I leave the license for TinyMCE intact in the download, how does the GPL/LGPL licensing work?  Is this something that happens with other GPL projects that include TinyMCE? 

I'm no GPL expert and I've been getting conflicting advice.

I noticed most of the licensing questions here are going unanswered.  I was hoping that this was a situation where I could actually ask for permission instead of just doing it and asking for forgiveness later.

9 Reply by kreynen

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

I've asked.  No one has answered.  I'm going to go ahead and include the TinyMCE code in next release of the TinyMCE module for Drupal with a default configuration that allows all valid XHTML markup.  Hopefully the differences in the GPL/LPGL won't be a problem.

10 Reply by spocke

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Sure just do it. The difference between GPL and LGPL as I see it is that a LGPL library can be used in a commercial application. But a GPL library can not. But the LGPL TinyMCE library can be used with a GPL CMS so I see no problems with including it.

Best regards,
Spocke - Main developer of TinyMCE

spocke's Website

11 Reply by kreynen

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Great!  TinyMCE is an extremely popular with Drupal users, but the two step install and double filter issues require a lot of unnecessary support.

12 Reply by gs riar

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

how can i purchase all the the script
with agreement
and use my wesite address in editing windows
and use tinyMCE LOGO AS PROVIDERS

13 Reply by RAM

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

I Agree that including it all in one download should eases the bur don on installing it.
I just downloaded the latest version of both the drupal shell and TinyMCE.

Glade to have the full profile selection back. Created two profiles but editor does not show up on any text fields.

Druupal 5.2 TinyMCE 2.2

Any help trouble shooting would be appreciated

Thanks
Ron

14 Reply by good_man

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

"LGPL software is focused on libraries. And anything that uses LGPL libraries may or may not be commercial as long as the license of the library is not changed and the whole application with source is distributed with the product. "

Do I have to show all the source of my program or just the piece of code that I used TinyMCE with ??

15 Reply by spocke

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

You only need to keep modifications to the "library" open. The rest of the product can be any license.

Best regards,
Spocke - Main developer of TinyMCE

spocke's Website

16 Reply by good_man

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

thanks spocke ... it's clear now

17 Reply by sagi

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Hello,

I have just upgraded from TinyMCE 2.0.5.1 to 3.0.7 and have the following problem:
After writing 2-3 lines and trying to select a font or background color from the popup menu, the cursor jumps to the beginning of the first line.
Has anyone came up against this problem?

thanks,
sagi.

18 Reply by suszen

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Great!  TinyMCE is an extremely popular with Drupal users, but the two step install and double filter issues require a lot of unnecessary support.

===================================
suszen

Job Positions

19 Reply by Felix Riesterer

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

@@Joshuared

If you don't like the free support then buy yourself some real support... Everything else is on a voluntary basis and costs people their spare time!

The information in the wiki is meant for professional developers. If you're not one of them then clearly the docs are not meant for you. So don't banter about them!

Greetings from Germany,

Felix Riesterer.
(-> about me and this forum <-)

Felix Riesterer's Website

20 Reply by Afraithe

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Joshuared's posts where removed, he can do his commercial somewhere else.

Afraithe
TinyMCE Developer
Moxiecode Systems

Afraithe's Website

21 Reply by vinayc

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

I am writing an commercial application for my client - application is always provided as an installation package to the client. I am thinking of using tinymce and I think that LGPL would allow it. However, what I am not exactly sure of is whether I can include the tinymce package as part of application installation package. I think LGPL probably allows to re-distribute the library with the application. So the next part is that if it allows to then do I need to include examples folder from tinymce package? As such, I am not making any code changes by removing it but I am certainly changing the original package as given by you folks.

Thanks in advance,
Vinay

22 Reply by mikegxf

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

thinks!
If you distribute a Java application that imports LGPL libraries, it's easy to comply with the LGPL. Your application's license needs to allow users to modify the library, and reverse engineer your code to debug these modifications. This doesn't mean you need to provide source code or any details about the internals of your application. Of course, some changes the users may make to the library may break the interface, rendering the library unable to work with your application. You don't need to worry about that -- people who modify the library are responsible for making it work.

23 Reply by Webby09

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Can someone (admin) please clarfiy something for me?

Background: I am creating a full CMS on my current site, which will allow clients to have their own password protected area to update their own subdomain site (theirname.mydomain.com) - I will be charging them for this, so it is commerical. There are serveral aspects to this, including templates, custom styles etc but I also needed a WYSIWYG editor for the textual content of the pages.

I have looked around, and TinyMCE looks ideal for this. BUT is this okay to do?

If so, I do not understand what is meant by "You only need to keep modifications to the library open. The rest of the product can be any license." etc... none of the files will be "open" on my application/system as it is all browser based for my clients. Sorry if I have misunderstood all of this, but I have never used open source code before with licenses etc... I just need someone to tell me what is okay to do regarding my situation. Can I implement it as discussed (my clients will have no access to the files), having a TinyMCE logo displayed to show who we have used? 

Thanks

24 Reply by Felix Riesterer

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Hi Webby09,

as far as I understand things it means that only changes to TinyMCE itself need to be made publicly available. If you develop a plugin for your commercial thing then this is fine since you don't make changes to TinyMCE itself. When you upload the original TinyMCE files onto your server (don't forget the license file!) then TinyMCE is on your server as you have downloaded it - so it is OK to be used in your commercial application.

I'm not 100% sure if you need to make your custom plugins publicly available or not, but my guess is that you needn't since they are no modification of the original code (aka "library"). So it is really the "library" itself, or in other words all original TinyMCE files which you need to keep as they were - or you need to make your modifications and patches publicly available for the community.

Does this clarify your question?

Greetings from Germany,

Felix Riesterer.
(-> about me and this forum <-)

Felix Riesterer's Website

25 Reply by Webby09

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Re: You may use TinyMCE in your commercial application/website

Many thanks Felix Riesterer smile

That makes sense - if I make modifications to the library I need to make it publicaly available. This shouldn't apply to me - I just need an editor for a page on my web-based application to style text in a basic manner (bold, italic, sizes etc) so I am assuming TinyMCE will work fine for this without me having to change anything, and therefore not worry about making anything public...

Going off what you have said in your post Felix Riesterer I should be okay - I just wanted to make sure before proceeding with anything.

Thanks for your help

Last edited by Webby09 (2009-05-26 23:35:37)