# Using a GPLv3 Licensed Contrib Node (node-red-contrib-kafka-manager)

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-a-gplv3-licensed-contrib-node-node-red-contrib-kafka-manager/62446>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [10 May 2022 11:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-a-gplv3-licensed-contrib-node-node-red-contrib-kafka-manager/62446 "2022-05-10T11:42:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gauravdasgupta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/gauravdasgupta/32/23372_2.png) [@gauravdasgupta](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/gauravdasgupta)\
**Post date:** [10 May 2022 11:42 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-a-gplv3-licensed-contrib-node-node-red-contrib-kafka-manager/62446/1 "2022-05-10T11:42:43Z")

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I am using the node-red-contrib-kafka-manager in my sample flows.  
The dependency to the contrib node is added to my package.json

```auto
"node-red-contrib-kafka-manager": "0.5.0"

```

This contrib Node or group of nodes ([node-red-contrib-kafka-manager (node) - Node-RED](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-contrib-kafka-manager))  
comes with the License: GPL-3.0  
Here is the official Quick Guide to GPLv3 - [A Quick Guide to GPLv3 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/quick-guide-gplv3.html)

My question is, can I distribute this package (including the node-red-contrib-kafka-manager) without opening my source code.  
NOTE - I am not modifying the Contrib Node, I am just a user

Also when I read [Open Source Software Licenses 101: GPL v3 | FOSSA Blog](https://fossa.com/blog/open-source-software-licenses-101-gpl-v3/#:~:text=GPL%20v3%20License%3A%20The%20Basics,changes%2C%20then%20distribute%20your%20version)

I found -

### Using the Licensed Code

The GPL v3 license permits users of the code to:

- **Use the code for commercial purposes:** Like GPL v2, GPL v3 imposes no conditions on the internal use of the software.
- **Change the code:** Users can change or rework the code, but if they distribute these changes/modifications in binary form, they’re also required to release these updates in source code form under the GPL v3 license.
- **Distribute copies or modifications of the code:** As long as these modifications are also released under the GPL v3 license, they can be distributed to others.
- **Place warranty:** Distributors of the original code can offer their own warranty on the licensed software.

Like its predecessor, GPL v3 does _not_ allow users to sublicense the code. In other words, you cannot rework, alter, or add to the code, then close those changes off to the public. The “open source-ness” of the original code follows any update or addition.

Please suggest in the right direction.

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**Author:** ![cymplecy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cymplecy/32/2773_2.png) [@cymplecy](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cymplecy)\
**Post date:** [10 May 2022 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-a-gplv3-licensed-contrib-node-node-red-contrib-kafka-manager/62446/2 "2022-05-10T12:08:39Z")

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No-one here is lawyer

But we (all) believe in open-source and we (all) believe in contributing to it

So your asking the wrong people I'm afraid 🙂

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [9 July 2022 12:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-a-gplv3-licensed-contrib-node-node-red-contrib-kafka-manager/62446/3 "2022-07-09T12:08:59Z")

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