Re: [Help-gsl] GPL violation?

[Johannes Buchner]

On Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:39:49 -0500
Leo Razoumov <address@hidden> wrote:

> On 2009-12-10, Brian Gough <address@hidden> wrote:
> > At Wed, 9 Dec 2009 23:27:16 +1300,
> >
> >
> > Is this the MET Fortran package?  
No it isn't. I'm afraid I drove the cosmomc author away from GSL by my
stubbornness on being right :-(

> > It sounds like it.  If so, the
> >  situation is that I agree with you entirely and I got the same
> > answer from them.
> >
> >  I do believe that if the program is distributed (even in purely
> > source form) it should be under the GPL, a compatible license, or
> > public domain.
> >
> >
> >  > On a somewhat related note, can users of the GSL choose to make
> >  > their code GPLv2 if it is still compatible with the 'old' GSL
> >  > versions that didn't have GPLv3?
> >
> >
> > While that might be possible I don't think it would be desirable, if
> >  someone wanted to use "GPLv2 only" for everything it would prevent
> >  people from using their code with new versions of the GSL under
> > GPLv3. The GPLv3 is a state-of-the-art free software license and I
> > would encourage everyone to use it.
> >
> >  --
> >  Brian Gough
> 
> IANAL, but I think there are only three legal ways to use GPL
> licensed code
> 
> (1) Do what ever you want but do *NOT* distribute the code at all
> (2) License derivative work under GPL and distribute

> (3) License your code under your favorite license, distribute (in
> source form) without GPL code and let end-user to download GSL,
> compile it, compile your code and link it all together. This is the
> worst distribution method for the reasons that are quite obvious.

That is the question, if (3) this is allowed at all. The GSL & FSF
websites states that source that uses calls to GPL libraries needs to
be distributed as GPL itself.
Which is the intent of the GPL as I understand it.

I asked at http://www.fsf.org/licensing/contact for advice.

Cheers,
Johannes

-- 
Emails können geändert, gefälscht und eingesehen werden. Signiere oder
verschüssele deine Mails mit GPG.
http://web.student.tuwien.ac.at/~e0625457/pgp.html

pgpolr647VmKR.pgp
Description: PGP signature