🛡️ RISK BADGE: 🟡 MEDIUM (Weak Copyleft)
Executive Summary: What is it?
The LGPL (Lesser General Public License) is a compromise between the permissive Apache/MIT and the strict GPL. It allows you to link your proprietary software to an LGPL library (dynamically) without forcing your proprietary code to become open source. However, if you modify the LGPL library itself, you must release those modifications.
CFO / Business Impact: What does it cost/risk?
Safe for Linking. You can build a proprietary product on top of LGPL libraries (like Odoo's core or FFmpeg) as long as you don't statically link or modify the core files. It allows for "Open Core" business models where the platform is open but extensions are closed.
Technical Reality: How does it work?
The "Viral" effect is limited to the library.
- Dynamic Linking: Linking your application to the library as a shared object/DLL. Your application code remains proprietary.
- Static Integration: Directly including the library code inside your application binary. This usually requires providing object code for re-linking.