Re: Can I use GCC without being forced to be GPL?

[jacob navia]

David Kastrup wrote:
> jacob navia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> writes:
>
> > In a previous message, I have explained that I can't use the
> > bfd library under linux because it is a GPLed binary.
> >
> > OK.
> >
> > But can I use the gcc compiler with
> >
> > system("gcc output.o");
> >
> > to produce the executable?
> >
> > If this usage of "gcc" makes my compiler system a
> > "derivative work" of gcc there is no sense by trying
> > to do a linux version at all.
>
> The GPL states:
>
>      Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are
>      not covered by this License; they are outside its scope.  The act
>      of running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the
>      Program is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on
>      the Program (independent of having been made by running the
>      Program).  Whether that is true depends on what the Program does.
>
> The output of a compiler is not commonly regarded as a "work based on
> a program".

Does that mean that if I do NOT distribute libbfd.a
I can still tell the linux users to download it and
install it for using my compiler system?

Or is dynamically linking with libbfd.a a copyright infringement
for non GPLed programs?

The problem is that I am NOT a lawyer, just a
compiler writer. I would like to have a
definitive answer (if at all possible)