Pandu Poluan wrote: > Dear All, > > First of all, please forgive me if I am not posting this in the right list; > based on the descriptions on http://www.clamav.org/support/ml , I think this > is the most suitable list. > > My question is: If I create a program that can *optionally* use libclamav, > must that program be GPL-licensed as well? > > For instance, let's assume my program is called "foo", which *optionally* > uses the "libclamav" library. > > libclamav uses the GPLv2 license. > > If libclamav does not exist in the same directory of "foo", then "foo" runs > using its internal mechanism. > > But if libclamav does exist in the same directory as "foo", "foo" will use > libclamav to enhance its internal mechanism. This usage of libclamav, > however is optional; the user must explicitly enable it through "foo" 's > options dialog box. > > So, to reiterate my question: Must "foo" be GPL-licensed as well? > > Thank you for your information. > > The easy way would be for foo to use clamscan, or clamd. If the GPL code lives at a different process, foo don't need to be GPL. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation A way to weaken the would be to allow different libs to improve to your otherwise full foo program by foo exposing different interfaces to them. So you would be using a GPL-plugin for foo, using genereic, documented, interfaces (not written specifically for clamav!). That might stand if it was done by an independent third party (unrelated to foo or clamav) not interested on having it other than using the great features of foo and clamav combined. But if you're developing foo you should probably gpl-license foo. And if you were developing clamav you should probably provide an exception for linking to foo http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLPluginsInNF http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#LinkingOverControlledInterface In the hypothetical case i mentioned, when you can't change the rights of any of the parties, i find odd that you couldn't do that, but GPL was made with its viric nature in mind. Nonetheless, IANAL, so take my 2 cents with care. :-)
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