Add Unity Linking Exception to resolve GPL license deadlock

Open enkvadrat opened this issue 1 month ago • 0 comments

This PR adds a Unity Linking Exception to the project's GPLv3 license.

The Legal Deadlock

As a Unity-based project, the current strict GPLv3 creates a legal conflict with Unity's proprietary engine blobs. This prevents the application from being legally packaged or distributed by Linux repositories

Authorization from Original Author

I have obtained explicit written permission from the original creator, Michael Voeller, to add this exception.

Raw email authorization

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References: <[email protected]>
In-Reply-To: <[email protected]>
From: Michael Voeller <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2026 19:59:32 -0500
Message-ID: <CAGsiqPiadxZNt9nQ=uruO52sFT2dcefLWPqVMoNhinUNPhoWAA@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Question about Materialize license - Linking Exception for Unity
To: Vide Jacobsson <[email protected]>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0000000000006c35f4064771572f"

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Sounds good, the license is just on there so people don't ask about
licensing.

On Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 6:06=E2=80=AFPM Vide Jacobsson <[email protected]=
om>
wrote:

>  Hi Michael Voeller,
>
> I was looking to use your software  Materialize to create PBR textures an=
d
> I'm currently working on packaging it for Arch Linux and potentially
> modernizing it.
>
> It's currently licensed under GPLv3 but since it's a Unity project, the
> GPL actually creates a legal conflicts with Unity's proprietary blobs. Th=
is
> makes it hard to distribute the application
>
> legally on Linux repos.
>
> Would you be willing to grant a "Linking Exception" for the Unity Engine?
>
> If you agree, I can handle the paperwork by creating a Pull Request on th=
e current
> active fork <https://github.com/maikramer/Materialize> (and the BoundingB=
oxSoftware
> repo if you like) that adds a NOTICE file with the exception text.
>
> Best regards, Vide Jacobsson
>

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<div dir=3D"auto"><div>Sounds good, the license is just on there so people =
don&#39;t ask about licensing.<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote=
_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 6:06=
=E2=80=AFPM Vide Jacobsson &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">=
[email protected]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail=
_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:=
1ex"><u></u>

 =20

   =20
 =20
  <div>
    <p>=C2=A0Hi Michael Voeller,=C2=A0</p>
    <p>I was looking to use your software=C2=A0 Materialize to create PBR
      textures=C2=A0and I&#39;m currently working on packaging it for Arch =
Linux
      and potentially modernizing it.</p>
    <p>It&#39;s currently licensed under GPLv3 but since it&#39;s a Unity
      project, the GPL actually creates a legal conflicts with Unity&#39;s
      proprietary blobs. This makes it hard to distribute the
      application</p>
    <p>legally on Linux repos.</p>
    <p>Would you be willing to grant a &quot;Linking Exception&quot; for th=
e Unity
      Engine?</p>
    <p>If you agree, I can handle the paperwork by creating a Pull
      Request on the <a href=3D"https://github.com/maikramer/Materialize" t=
arget=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">current active
        fork</a> (and the <span><span>BoundingBoxSoftware
          repo if you like) that adds a NOTICE file with the exception
          text.</span></span></p>
    <p><span><span>Best regards,
          Vide Jacobsson</span></span></p>
  </div>

</blockquote></div></div></div>

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Contributor Consent

To the maintainer (maikramer) and other contributors: By merging this Pull Request, you agree to apply this Unity Linking Exception to your own contributions within this repository.

Jan 04 '26 01:01 enkvadrat