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Re: Legal stuf, GPL, ...



On Tue, 4 Jan 2000, Stanislav Malyshev a.k.a Frodo wrote:

> AR>> 1. I'm going to use GPL licensed development tools.
> 
> That's OK. Program compiled by gcc isn't "work based on it", as in GPL.
> 
> AR>> 2. I consider to incorporate into my code GPL licensed pieces of
> AR>> software.
> AR>> 3. I'm NOT going to provide source code for my software.
> 
> Here you are at risk serious troubles. I don't know what's the legal
> status of GPL in Israel and if it was tested here in the court, but you
> will be clearly violating copyright agreement. At least *tons* of bad
> publicity you'll get.
> 
> AR>> What can be done?
> 
> Don't use GPL'd code. Use commerical or public domain or unrestricted or
> some other license. Or write yourself.
> 
> -- 
> frodo@sharat.co.il	\/  There shall be counsels taken
> Stanislav Malyshev	/\  Stronger than Morgul-spells
> phone +972-3-9316425	/\  		JRRT LotR.
> http://sharat.co.il/frodo/	whois:!SM8333
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Hi,
I investigated the legal aspects of this issue when I worked at Ad-Cad
years ago. The legal situation is that if you do not modify the GPL'd
code, only include it, then you do not have to provide the source code
that you developed.

There is a grey area if you develop a product that includes modified GPL'd
code. In this case, the best thing to do is to define a clear interface
between the part that includes the modified GPL'd code and the rest of the
application. Provide the modified GPL source, don't provide whatever you
developed on the other side of the interface.

My experience was that the folks who are willing to pay for the
application are never interested in looking at the source code. They paid
for the application because that was cheaper than developing it
themselves.

Regards,

 - yba

   EE 77 7F 30 4A 64 2E C5  83 5F E7 49 A6 82 29 BA    ~. .~   TclTek Ltd.
 =}-------------------------------------------------ooO--U--Ooo-----------{=
  - benavrhm@tcltek.co.il - tel: +972.52.670.353, http://www.tcltek.co.il -



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