%% Allan Rae <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>> The LyX license does make such an exception, so, no problem there.
ar> We [Larry] wrote the clause to satisfy Debian. I think many of us
ar> interpret the GPL differently to FSF and Debian. When I studied
ar> it at the time I thought the license contradicted itself about
ar> linking -- Debian quoted one clause but another seemed to say it
ar> was alright to link to closed-source libraries.
It's OK if the library is part of the standard system. That clause was
added mainly to cover linking GNU code with a proprietary libc.
Obviously, the "system library" clause is problematic; beyond obviously
eligible things like libc and obviously not eligible things like xforms,
there are many shades of grey. "System library" isn't a well-defined
term, by any stretch. Motif was deemed eligible by the FSF a couple of
years ago even though it doesn't come standard on many systems,
especially free systems. Of course, now that there's Lesstif that's not
even really an issue anymore.
Qt is another problematic one: a couple of Linux distros ship it as part
of the standard system, but most Linux distros don't, and no other UNIX
of any stripe does.
ar> But it's all down to lawyers in the end, right Larry? Besides
ar> it's their distribution so their interpretation is what counted.
Indeed. I find that the safest route myself.
>> Nevertheless, the FSF won't accept LyX as GNU software as long as it
>> relies on non-free libraries like xforms. Does it matter?
ar> I'm sure there will be some amongst them that will hate us once we
ar> have Windows gui support (via MFC) and whatever other closed
ar> source toolkits people see fit to port LyX to even if we KDE and
ar> Gnome ports to balance things out.
There are always some amongst any large group who are irrational.
Please don't paint the majority with the same brush as the few. RMS and
the FSF have absolutely nothing against supporting Windows; many if not
the majority of GNU tools support it now, including Emacs.
--
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Paul D. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Network Management Development
"Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist
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These are my opinions---Nortel Networks takes no responsibility for them.
