Michael Goffioul wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 1:06 PM, Jaroslav Hajek <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> >
> > Why not? There is no problem writing an interface to a proprietary
> > library, provided that the interface itself will be GPL'ed.
> > Writing such an interface certainly does not make the library a
> > derivative work of Octave :)
> 
> If the interface is an oct-file (hence linked against octave libraries),
> then I think the interface, as well as the library, must be licensed
> under GPL. We had the kind of discussion before, and I think that
> GPLv3 is very explicit about this. Even distributing in source-form
> only is not valid.

Jaroslav's point is central and correct: two independent pieces of
software don't become mutually derived works just because someone writes
an interface between them.  The interface is derived from both, and must
have a license compatible with both.  Because MOSEK afaik imposes no
licensing requirements, the GPL suffices.  

The GPL FAQ says, "If you want your program to link against a library not
covered by the system library exception, you need to provide permission to
do that."  So, provide permission.  Problem solved.  
 
> The only answer to this is to use a MEX
> interface and pretend it is designed for the other brand. 

No.  The GPL doesn't define "link" so specifically.  There's no technical
workaround, no kind of linking that's OK while another isn't.  Thankfully,
no such distinction is needed, because no problem exists.  

HTH.  

--jkl

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