On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 8:54 PM, Ted Harding
<ted.hard...@manchester.ac.uk> wrote:
> ...However, if that commercial interpreter also had a 'compile' option,
> and I compiled my progrtam using that, then equally I feel sure
> that the compiled version would be subject to whatever restrictions
> had been placed on distirbution fo binaries so compiled. I think
> those things are clear enough.
I do not know of any compiler licenses that place restrictions on what
you can do with code compiled under them, though I suppose they could
in principle. The restrictions typically come if you link to libraries
provided with the compiler.
> ...inspires someone to incorporate the same language extension
> into a GPL'd FORTRAN interpreter/compiler. I think I could then
> be vulnerable, or they could, on the grounds that I/they had pinched
> the idea from the commercial product.
Unless you have a confidentiality agreement of some kind, or the idea
is covered by a patent, you can pinch any ideas you like from other
products. Copyright law does not cover ideas.
> ...Or maybe the GPL doesn't inhibit you
> from using *ideas* and *features* of GPL software, provided you
> implement them yourself and in your own way?
The GPL does not and cannot restrict reimplementations of ideas and features.
-s
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