On Sun, 1 Oct 2000, Barak Pearlmutter wrote: > > You all know the sort of problem: according to some people's > > understanding of the GPL and copyright law, GPL software X cannot be > > linked with GPL-incompatible software Y and then distributed even if X > > and Y are separate works in separate packages. > > > > Invent yet another licence? I hope not. > > I've been pondering this issue. What do people think about the below? > We're considering using it in some new GPLed software we're > developing, so I'd appreciate feedback. > > This software is licensed under the GPL [... standard boilerplate.] > > In addition to the distribution rights granted by the GPL, this > software may used as a module linked to other modules resulting in a > whole which constitutes a single work, eg as a library linked into a > program, even if the entire program is not licensed under terms > compatible with the GPL, and the resulting work distributed, > *provided* that the composite work is distributed under > DFSG-compatible terms. >
First, GPL has nothing to do with use. You can USE a GPL program with a non-GPL program, you just can't distribute it under non-GPL terms. Second, some of the DFSG-compatible terms are explicitly not GPL compatible (think X license). So, by the above, I could take a GPL work (that mandates source sharing), link it to something else, distribute the composite under X License (which is DFSG compatible, but allows you to take it proprietary), and someone else can distribute a prorietary version without source, thus violating the current GPL. If someone wants to distribute a proprietary module, let them distribute it separately, and tell the user that it's there responsibility to link it. Yes, it's a pain on the users, but if you don't like it, use the GPL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jeffry Smith Technical Sales Consultant Mission Critical Linux [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone:603.930.9739 fax:978.446.9470 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thought for today: zorkmid /zork'mid/ n. The canonical unit of currency in hacker-written games. This originated in Zork but has spread to nethack and is referred to in several other games.