[cc-community] GNU-GPL, makefiles, and non-distributed executables

David davidpalmer at westnet.com.au
Fri Dec 14 20:52:05 EST 2007


Greg London wrote:
> Scenario:
> 
> George has some software. He licensed it GNU-GPL.
> 
> Alice has an application. She wants to use some of George's code in her
> application. But she already has some of her own code, and she want's to
> keep her code proprietary.

She can do it, but not in this way.
> 
> Eve is an end-user of Alice's application. She'd like to see George's code
> rolled into Alice's application too.

Well, it's not Alices application when this happens.

I am quite sure that when Microsofts code does get looked at, Alice 
won't be any more than a very minor offender in this regard though.
> 
> Alice generates object files for her code and object files for George's
> code. She includes the source code for George's code. Alice then includes
> a makefile and a compiler and bundles the whole thing on a CD and mails it
> to Eve.
> 
> Eve compiles the object files together on her computer. Alice makes Eve
> agree to not distribute the resulting executable.
> 
> Question:
> 
> Does this satisfy the GNU-GPL applied to George's code?

No way this side of the river Styx.
> 
> I thought it would.

Then you were incorrect, but never mind, it happens to the best of us.

  But I was discussing this recently with another open
> source enthusiast, and they were certain this couldn't satisfy the
> license.

The other enthusiast was right.
> 
> If it doesn't, can someone explain?

The GPL is quite openly expressed in this regard:

http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLRequireSourcePostedPublic

There is no hard boundary here - Debian, for example, has various code 
application definitions within its repository to cover the use of 
software that doesn't comply with the DFSG (Debian Free Software 
Guidelines), and even writes code to facilitate the use of these 
'non-free' and 'contrib' categories for the general use of the community 
when there is a recognised need for it.

In this way, 'Alice' (someone you know?), by building a separate 
application, can then bridge to 'Georges' code' (small apps, joined by 
pipes, is a scenario that works).

But, as a general principle, if you want to 'take', you should place 
yourself within the mental space of 'giving back' also.
There's enough parasitism in the world.
It has its place in the general scheme of things.
It's not within the sphere of software, though.
.........................
Yes, I'm back.
A  recovery period was seen as necessary after falling through a roof 
installing Cat5, tearing various hip and leg muscles along with a minor 
back-break, if you can call that minor (I find the medical mentality 
interesting), but I'm here once again to the applause of some and the 
chagrin of others.
Regards,


-- 
David Palmer
Linux User - #352034


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