Re: More GPL questions

[David Kastrup]

Alexander Terekhov <terekhov@web.de> writes:

> 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.

Sure, but we are not talking about "mechanical transformation", but
mechanical _combination_.  "cc -E" _includes_ stdio.h and other stuff.

> 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).

In Terekhov-Lala-land.  "Aggregation" is not a term used for creating
a functional unit with inseparable components.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum