Re: what DOES the GPL really say?

[psmith@baynetworks.com (Paul D. Smith)]

%% Wes Groleau <no.such.user@no.such.com> writes:

  >> >So, if any part of my program contains any part (or derivation of)
  >> >their program, I have two choices:
  >> >1. Distribute my program "as a whole" under the terms of the GPL
  >> >2. Don't distribute my program.

  >> That's correct and exactly the status of the resulting work.

  wg> However, that is not what people have been telling me.  Several times
  wg> I have been reprimanded for saying I cannot incorporate a particular
  wg> bit of code due to the GPL.

Without knowing the details of what you said and the replies you
received it's impossible to comment directly.

However, we all know that there are plenty of not-so-knowledgeable
people using the 'Net who think (or at least like to pretend) that they
are otherwise :).

That being said, there are a few things which could change the basic
status outlined above.  For example, if the code was under the LGPL
instead of the GPL, there're whole new avenues opened to you.

Also, if you weren't careful in describing exactly how you wanted to
utilize the GPL'd code, or what you meant by "contains", above, some
might have misinterpreted it.

Although the fundamental case is stated pretty clearly in this thread, I
think, if you still aren't sure exactly how the GPL applies to your
situation you can post explicit details of what you want to do, or you
could email RMS directly and ask him what he thinks.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Paul D. Smith <psmith@baynetworks.com>         Network Management Development
 "Please remain calm...I may be mad, but I am a professional." --Mad Scientist
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     These are my opinions--Bay Networks takes no responsibility for them.