RE: how much is too much?

[Jose Molina]

I have a question. If I have a library that is not Free (by FSF standards),
and it is distributed as a part of a GNU/Linux distro, and I link a GPL
program against it, is it permitted by the GPL terms, I mean, can this
library be considered part of the operating system?. The specific case is
OpenMotif on a RedHat system. I was going to link a GPL'ed program (not
developed by me) against it.

-----Mensaje original-----
De: gnu-misc-discuss-bounces+jmolina=corpmyl.com@gnu.org
[mailto:gnu-misc-discuss-bounces+jmolina=corpmyl.com@gnu.org]En nombre
de David Kastrup
Enviado el: Miercoles, 25 de Mayo de 2005 11:58
Para: gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org
Asunto: Re: how much is too much?


Chad Whitacre <chad@zetaweb.com> writes:

>>>I.e., would it be possible to package all GPL code that I want to
>>>use in an LGPL library and use that from a public domain package?
>> Look, "public domain" means that everybody is allowed to do whatever
>> he wants with the product (including releasing proprietary versions).
>> It completely escapes me how you can imagine to have the right to do
>> that.
>
> By "use" I meant in linked fashion. My thought was to make the
> functionality of the GPL'd code available to the public domain code
> via an LGPL'd library. Either way the answer appears to be "no."

What gives you the right to change the GPL to LGPL?

> In general I am trying to get educated on the whole
> copyright/licensing issue. Distinguishing between the two was a
> first step, the GPL FAQ is explaining more.

Well, for one thing, if you get a license for something, it is not
your option to change the conditions of the license.

If you want different conditions, ask the copyright holder.

> The bottom line seems to be that the street between copyleft and
> non-copyleft free software only runs one way: copyleft can
> incorporate non-copyleft and retain its identity, but not the other
> way around. I.e., the GPL's hegemony extends to non-copyleft free
> software as much as to proprietary software. Accurate?

No.  GPLed code is not convertible into other licenses, but that does
not mean that other code is convertible to the GPL.  There are
actually very few licenses that allow rereleasing as GPL.

--
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum
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