I have a question. If I have a library that is not Free (by FSF standards), and it is distributed as a part of a GNU/Linux distro, and I link a GPL program against it, is it permitted by the GPL terms, I mean, can this library be considered part of the operating system?. The specific case is OpenMotif on a RedHat system. I was going to link a GPL'ed program (not developed by me) against it.
-----Mensaje original----- De: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] nombre de David Kastrup Enviado el: Miercoles, 25 de Mayo de 2005 11:58 Para: [email protected] Asunto: Re: how much is too much? Chad Whitacre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >>>I.e., would it be possible to package all GPL code that I want to >>>use in an LGPL library and use that from a public domain package? >> Look, "public domain" means that everybody is allowed to do whatever >> he wants with the product (including releasing proprietary versions). >> It completely escapes me how you can imagine to have the right to do >> that. > > By "use" I meant in linked fashion. My thought was to make the > functionality of the GPL'd code available to the public domain code > via an LGPL'd library. Either way the answer appears to be "no." What gives you the right to change the GPL to LGPL? > In general I am trying to get educated on the whole > copyright/licensing issue. Distinguishing between the two was a > first step, the GPL FAQ is explaining more. Well, for one thing, if you get a license for something, it is not your option to change the conditions of the license. If you want different conditions, ask the copyright holder. > The bottom line seems to be that the street between copyleft and > non-copyleft free software only runs one way: copyleft can > incorporate non-copyleft and retain its identity, but not the other > way around. I.e., the GPL's hegemony extends to non-copyleft free > software as much as to proprietary software. Accurate? No. GPLed code is not convertible into other licenses, but that does not mean that other code is convertible to the GPL. There are actually very few licenses that allow rereleasing as GPL. -- David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum _______________________________________________ Gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss _______________________________________________ Gnu-misc-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
