Re: gEDA-user: firmware and the GPL license

[Peter Clifton <pcjc2@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 2007-11-15 at 11:05 -0800, Chris Albertson wrote:

> In your case where you are wrinting code and you make use of GPL'd
> code then yes you should release your code under GPL.  But there is
> an exception.  The exception is for a GPL'd component that provides
> some well defined functon that could be provided by some other
> component.  An example of this would by a Windows DLL.  Just because
> your program calls a DLL that is GPLd your program does not have to
> be GPL'd.  The key is the degree of separation.  The DLL case is clear
> cut because any number of programs can call the same DLL and the
> DLL can be distributed independently of the programs that use it.
> As long as you maintain this level of independence you are not
> effected by GPL.

LGPL code is the exception.. if a DLL is GPL and you dynamically link
against it, your program must be GPL. No exceptions unless the author of
the DLL granted it.

> If you link in the GPL'd code and make a single object that cannot
> be taken apart then the object you made must be covered by GPL
> and you need to offer the source code.

If you link in GPL'd code, period. That includes dynamic linking, and
any attempts to "wrap" the proprietary code in a GPL'd wrapper.

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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