Code that's licensed under the GPL but imports code licensed under
the APL is treading the line of what might reasonably be considered to be
a "derived work" in the eyes of the GPL (thus requiring that the APL code
be GPLd and breaking the Tomcat license). So I would strongly urge that
any Tomcat integration code at all goes in a "contrib" module - if core
jBoss classes import Tomcat code, then I don't think there's any way this
will be legal!
Also, you mentioned in a later post that we don't change any
Tomcat code and that is not true - the newest inVM integration requires
some kind of Tomcat code change or addition. So we have to do it right.
Finally, (are you listening, Board?) there mas a rumor floating
around a while back about a license addendum that would clarify the
situation with regard to "derived work" and jBoss, or perhaps alter the
GPL slightly to make it more like the LGPL or something. The rumor said
that this would be completed and run by lawyers within days, and that was
over a month ago. I would be *really nice* to see something like that.
It's easy enough for any of us to laugh off the issue, since no
one would bother suing me or Marc or Telkel over the GPL, but as I try to
push it into larger clients with significant assets, they seem to be
correspondingly more sensitive to lawsuit potential that may require them
to open-source some of their proprietary products that work with, around,
or on jBoss. And of course, there are always punitive damages...
I would strongly urge the board to make good on those promises and
make a more significant statement on the licensing...
Aaron
On Sat, 21 Oct 2000, Kevin Lewis wrote:
> Hi, everyone.
>
> I would like to submit my Tomcat JNDI (ejb-ref, resource-ref)
> integration, asap. However, I would like to resolve the licensing
> issues before I do so.
>
> If my class is licensed under the GPL (as part of jBoss), but imports,
> extends, or otherwise uses, Tomcat classes (APL), I think I'm okay,
> since the APL is not infective.
>
> Is this true?
>
> If so, I'd like to submit my code. I think this might fall under 3rd
> Party Integration, which, from the site, would mean I need to talk to
> Juha Lindfors. Is this correct?
>
> Thanks, all.
>
> --
> Kevin Lewis
> Middle Reliever
> Axys Solutions
> http://www.AxysSolutions.com/
>
