It's not that clear cut with Java. In fact, the GPL is rather flawed when it comes to interpreted languages, or any languages that allow reflection, because in the former case, there is no linking (at least not in the original sense) and in the latter, linking can be avoided via said mechanism.The question to be answered is whether or not the closed programs is a derivative of the GPLed one. The GPL states that a program that is linked against a GPLed program is considered a derivative program, so according to the GPL you only get legal rights to use the GPLed program if you offer the previously closed source program under the GPL license when you distribute it.
I solve this problem by going by the spirit of the GPL and not its letter, but the original poster seems to be more interested in the legal repercussions of his actions, no?
Alexander Maryanovsky.
At 00:09 30.12.2002 +0200, Gilad Ben-Yossef wrote:
On Sun, 2002-12-29 at 22:46, Ira Abramov wrote: > > like... if my closed-source Java program calls an otherwise standalone > Jar that is GPL and embeds its output in the main GUI (a sort of applet > within an applet), is my program, which links directly to its APIs (if > I got it correctly), forced to become GPL too?The question to be answered is whether or not the closed programs is a derivative of the GPLed one. The GPL states that a program that is linked against a GPLed program is considered a derivative program, so according to the GPL you only get legal rights to use the GPLed program if you offer the previously closed source program under the GPL license when you distribute it. Of course, IANAL ;-) -- Gilad Ben-Yossef <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://benyossef.com "Geeks rock bands cool name #8192: RAID against the machine" ================================================================= To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word "unsubscribe" in the message body, e.g., run the command echo unsubscribe | mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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