Peter Hutnick said:
>> Yeah...that's really what I'm wondering. If I have my own code, but
>> make function calls and the like to script libraries licensed under
>> the GPL, does it mean my code will have to be GPL'd as well?
>
> In a word, yes.
Even if the script libraries are themselves just PHP scripts...not any
binary code being linked into the interpreter? I'm still unclear here.
>> Say, for instance, that I use a GPL'd library that provides a class
>> called myGPLClass. If I create instances of myGPLClass in my own
>> scripts, does that make my code in violation of the GPL?
>
> No. Use is not restricted in any way by the GPL. In fact, you needn't
> even /agree/ to the GPL in order to use GPLed software in any way you'd
> like, only to (re)distribute it.
Hmmm....now I think I understand what you mean, but if I consider it in
the context of my question and with your above statement, it seems
contradictory. I don't think it's that you're misunderstanding me...I
think it's me misunderstanding you ;-).
Let me lay it out:
Say you create a set of class libraries, called PeterLib, and release it
under the GPL. I download these libraries...like what you've done...and
decide to use them in my development. Your library makes available a
class called FooBar that I really like, and I decide to make use of it in
a number of my own files.
So, one of the core files in my application contains:
<?
require_once("/PeterLib/FooBar.inc");
$myObj = new FooBar();
$myObj->getFoo();
$myObj->printBar();
?>
Now, futher assume that I want to sell my application under my own
company's license and I label all my files as such, but still retain your
GPL license it the PeterLib files. I rush to market and have an
overwhelming amount of customers in the first month.
Four issues:
1. Have I violated the GPL by distributing your code with my "propietary",
non-open source app? I'm still distributing source, but my specific files
(including a few that call PeterLib classes) are not GPL'd.
2. If I decided to only distribute my own source for money under my own
propietary license, but told my customers that in order for my application
to function correctly, they'd need to download PeterLib. Is this a
violation?
3. If the above are considered violations, I assume only using libraries
licensed under licenses like the LGPL or PHP would make it safe for me to
redistribute with my proprietary app?
4. How do the above change if/when I decide to encode my self-written
files with Zend Encoder?
Thanks very much for all your input. Very helpful. I really appreciate it.
John
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