Re: Binary Version for Mac OS X?

[Bob Friesenhahn]

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007, John W. Eaton wrote:
> Really?  Even if the installer is not linked with the GPLed program
> that is installing?  Why?  I thought the GPL covered derivative works.
> How would an installer program be a derivative work of the program it
> installs?

> From GPL v2:

  "The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
making modifications to it.  For an executable work, complete source
code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to
control compilation and installation of the executable."
                    ----------------------------------

Clearly the impact of the rules depend on how installation is 
implemented.  If installation is done via an bundled executable 
program ("InstallShield" style), then it is clear that the source for 
the installer program must be included (or freely available).  But if 
the installer is a standard part of the operating system and the 
installable package is simply a data format, then all that is needed 
is the developer-level description to produce that data format.  For 
example, RPM packages are a data format.

For Mac OS X, investigation is likely to find that the standard 
installer is actually part of the OS and the packages are just a data 
format prepared by some other tool which is also provided with the OS. 
However, there are "InstallShield" style installers for OS X which do 
not use the installation facilities of the OS.

It is a misnomer that GPL only covers "derivative works" (where 
someone has modified the source code or used it as part of their own 
program).  Instead it covers any distribution of the "Program" based 
on GPL copyrighted material (modified or not).  GPL does not limit any 
other use.

Since this is the Autoconf list, it is worth pointing out that GPL 
requires that any developer-level source elements for the 
build/install environment (e.g. configure.ac) be included with the 
associated package.

Bob
======================================
Bob Friesenhahn
address@hidden, http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen/
GraphicsMagick Maintainer,    http://www.GraphicsMagick.org/