Hi, I'm currently involved in a discussion on kde-core-devel regarding the use of a QPLed plugin that is dlopened within a GPLed application. For details:
http://lists.kde.org/?l=kdevelop-devel&m=111102280128853&w=2 I received the following response, claiming that dlopened plugins do not need to be GPL-compatible: > > Given that the QPL is GPL-incompatible, this raises issues for GPLed > > programs that wish to use this kpart. I believe this at least > > includes quanta and kdevelop (unless I'm mistaken). > > kparts are loaded at runtime. It has always been understood in the > community that the license restrictions based on copyright law do not > apply to runtime components. The implications of reinterpreting USC 17 > this way are profound. The effects on Java development alone would be > catastrophic. > > It is somewhat understood that a deliberate misuse of runtime components > to circumvent copyrights is not allowed, but this is certainly NOT the > case for quanta and kdevelop (you also forgot konqueror). These > applications are designed to load available runtime components solely > on the basis of the services made available. There is no copyright > violation occuring when a user loads a plugin at runtime, particularly > one with a generic interface like a kpart. I'd appreciate if debian-legal could offer their advice here as to whether this situation is allowable or not. Please CC me on replies; I'm not subscribed. Thanks - Ben. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
