Plugin License column

shuvashish76 · 09-03-2023, 12:09 PM

Request to add another column called "License" to user plugin table of Calibre.
Similar to how mozilla show license for their extensions (e.g. uBlock Origin | link), add license type hyperlinked to source code of the plugin.

Currently calibre has no such view option hence most devs publish plugins without any license which means those plugins are copyrighted/proprietary, which technically means nobody can redistribute with their own changes. No future of such plugins.
This shouldn't be the criteria, just nice to have an license for transparency.

Benefits of OSI approved license:
1. Promotes foss & encourages devs for their work to publish under a FOSS license.
2. Proper license and source code allows others to work on previous plugins & redistribute/revive older/original plugins legally and ethically in case they got abandoned/inactive.

PS: Created the thread here cause its not related to any plugin request. Thanks

kovidgoyal · 09-03-2023, 12:22 PM

Since plugins depend on calibre which is GPL3ed they have to be GPL3 or compatible anyway to even exist. And by their very nature plugins are distributed in source form.

shuvashish76 · 09-03-2023, 01:15 PM

Thanks for the info.

09-03-2023, 12:09 PM	#1
shuvashish76 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2022 Device: none	Plugin License column Request to add another column called "License" to user plugin table of Calibre. Similar to how mozilla show license for their extensions (e.g. uBlock Origin \| link), add license type hyperlinked to source code of the plugin. Currently calibre has no such view option hence most devs publish plugins without any license which means those plugins are copyrighted/proprietary, which technically means nobody can redistribute with their own changes. No future of such plugins. This shouldn't be the criteria, just nice to have an license for transparency. Benefits of OSI approved license: 1. Promotes foss & encourages devs for their work to publish under a FOSS license. 2. Proper license and source code allows others to work on previous plugins & redistribute/revive older/original plugins legally and ethically in case they got abandoned/inactive. PS: Created the thread here cause its not related to any plugin request. Thanks Last edited by shuvashish76; 09-03-2023 at 12:19 PM. Reason: added extension direct link

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09-03-2023, 12:22 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,860 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Since plugins depend on calibre which is GPL3ed they have to be GPL3 or compatible anyway to even exist. And by their very nature plugins are distributed in source form.

09-03-2023, 01:15 PM	#3
shuvashish76 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2022 Device: none	Thanks for the info.