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I am planning to use a math library named Eigen3 which is under MPL 2.0.
However, I am not sure what MPL 2.0 means.

As a game developer, who want to sell game.exe (probably by Steam or GoG) who does not wish to distribute source .h/.cpp, here is what I understand MPL 2.0 :-

  1. I have to tell the buyers of my game that I use Eigen3, and provide a reasonable-and-almost-free way (how? Is attaching a description .txt enough?) to download code of Eigen3.
  2. If I just call some functions of Eigen3 and I don't modify any part of the library, I don't have to distribute any of modification of anything.
  3. There are no other obligation.

Question

  1. How should I provide them source code of Eigen3 in practice?
  2. Is there any wrong about my understanding?
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1 Answer 1

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This is not the best site to get legal advice (not sure if the SE legal site is good for game licenses either).

I used TLDRlicense for MPL 2.0. Based on what it says, the answers to your questions are:

  1. You should provide them a link. Something like "You can download the source code for Eigen3 at http://eigen.tuxfamily.org" (or whatever the right URL is)

  2. No, your understanding is correct.

The "usual" way to do this is provide a license.txt or credits file/screen (or something similar) which lists all copyright-related things. Here's where you can provide the link and notice about Eigen3.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Good answer! By the way, what are good legal sites for (game) programmers in your mind? \$\endgroup\$
    – javaLover
    Commented Dec 26, 2016 at 4:21
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    \$\begingroup\$ @javaLover The open source stack exchange, opensource.stackexchange.com \$\endgroup\$
    – EMBLEM
    Commented Dec 26, 2016 at 7:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ @javaLover: At least for Open Source Licenses. For proprietary licenses, try the Law Stack Exchange. We used to also take software licensing questions on Software Engineering, but since the creation of those two, we have become much more strict, for the simple reason that we are programmers, not lawyers, and thus simply not equipped to answer such questions. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jörg W Mittag
    Commented Dec 26, 2016 at 11:06
  • \$\begingroup\$ Providing a mention in the EULA would work as well. \$\endgroup\$
    – Mast
    Commented Dec 26, 2016 at 11:20
  • \$\begingroup\$ @ashes999 No, post a mention about Eigen3 in the EULA of the to-be-sold program. \$\endgroup\$
    – Mast
    Commented Dec 26, 2016 at 13:12

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