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GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 5:04
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 5:04 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Brisingr Aerowing30-Aug-16 4:39
professionalBrisingr Aerowing30-Aug-16 4:39 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 5:06
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 5:06 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question PinPopular
Wonde Tadesse30-Aug-16 7:04
professionalWonde Tadesse30-Aug-16 7:04 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 8:02
kmoorevs30-Aug-16 8:02 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Wonde Tadesse30-Aug-16 8:05
professionalWonde Tadesse30-Aug-16 8:05 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Kiriander30-Aug-16 21:36
Kiriander30-Aug-16 21:36 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 2:12
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 2:12 
What does the license for the open source library say? If you do what's allowed by the license it's neither illegal nor unethical. The open source developer(s) chose the license to release the code under. If they wanted to require credit or to prevent or restrict certain modifications they could have done so.

If you break the license, on the other hand you could potentially be sued. (I'll leave the ethics question to the philosophers).

If I'm understanding your question right I don't think you have an issue. You're not redistributing the open source code in source or binary form correct? You're proposing modifying the open source code to suit your needs and change what it outputs? In that case I am not even sure gpl or lgpl would come into play. I believe (I could be wrong so double check for yourself) they only cover redistribution of the code in source or binary form. If you make modifications and use them internally to accomplish a task I don't think they require you to credit anyone or make your mods available or do anything else. I know MIT and the other less obnoxious licenses would not. I don't use gpl code ever, and rarely use lgpl code so I haven't reviewed those licenses in awhile.

But to repeat, follow the rules and if what you're doing is not prohibited, then it's allowed. Open source authors have ample means to restrict how people use their stuff. I would not overly concern myself with their potential hurt feelings. Just follow the law.

GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 2:26
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 2:26 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
kmoorevs31-Aug-16 9:02
kmoorevs31-Aug-16 9:02 
GeneralRe: A quick ethical question Pin
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 14:01
Peter Moore - Chicago31-Aug-16 14:01 
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Fabio Franco31-Aug-16 9:33
professionalFabio Franco31-Aug-16 9:33 
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kmoorevs31-Aug-16 11:23
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Fabio Franco31-Aug-16 12:16
professionalFabio Franco31-Aug-16 12:16 
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jschell1-Sep-16 6:26
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Daniel Pfeffer30-Aug-16 0:09
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