On 3/5/07, fabien <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Your answers are in the case you distribute your module with the application. If you develop and distribute your own proprietary module separetly, there is no problem according to the GPL. (because it's like another software).
for the nth time, no that's not the case. for example, you can't make a non-gpl program depending exclusively on the gpl version of mysql, because it's obviously a derivative work: it's a program specifically designed for a gpl product, and that can't work without that gpl product. if you don't believe me, just ask mysql ab!!. (in fact, mysql ab makes a special linking exception that allows all foss licenses other than gpl, but the structure is the same).
The best example is the Linux kernel, for which you can find lots of proprietary modules / drivers. They do not infridge the GPL if they are not distributed with the kernel.
well this has been argued a lot of times... many people (including the fsf, creators of the gpl) say that kernel modules designed *for* the linux kernel are derivative works, since they were created specifically to work with that piece of gpl software, intimately tied to their internals, and they can't work without it. some drivers / modules weren't designed specifically for the linux kernel, and/or don't work tightly with their internals (they communicate through a somewhat generic interface), so they aren't considered derivative works. but in tiny erp's case, any module will be developed specifically for it, and will depend tightly on its internals, so it will be easily considered a derivative work in any court of law, and subject to the gpl, no matter if you distribute the original software or not, just like it happens with (for example) mysql or the qt libraries. just ask the fsf, or simply think about it: if circumventing the gpl was as easy as distributing things separately, everyone would do it! then, how come trolltech or mysql ab sell propietary versions, and why people pay thousands of dollars for them? just to avoid telling their customers "go download it from the internet"?? -- Santiago Roza [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Tinyerp-users mailing list http://tiny.be/mailman/listinfo/tinyerp-users
