Re: More GPL questions

[Alexander Terekhov]

Stefaan A Eeckels wrote:
[...]
> Once you start transforming it through compilers and linkers the
> picture might change, depending on how much of the library is included
> in the transformed source code. If, for example, you execute 'cc -E',
> the resulting source code will contain the whole of "stdio.h", and as
> such it's now most definitely something that is affected by the stdio.h
> copyright (I leave it to Alexander to define if it's a derivative work,
> a compilation, or anything he wishes).

Mechanical transformation never create derivative works. Legally it's 
just copying of the original expression without transforming/modifying
creativity resulting in a derivative work. So your 'cc -E' would simply 
"mere aggregate" (in GNU speak) original protected expression from 
multiple separate and independent works just like tar (same files 
tar'ed) would do it (legal effect is the same). 

regards,
alexander.