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AugustePop

Member

Registered: 2010-04-27

Posts: 95

GPL question

I should have made the subject more informative, but I just don't know how to word my question.

If I write a software which links to GPL libraries, can I release it as source code into public domain? I mean, I don't redistribute anything that is GPL licensed but my own text work, which if compiled by users will use GPL libraries to function. Is this legally acceptable?

Nichollan

Member

From: Stavanger, Norway

Registered: 2010-05-18

Posts: 110

Re: GPL question

I suspect what you ask of is discussed in the Wikipedia article on the GNU GPL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPL#Linkin … ived_works

Vermillion

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2010-08-13

Posts: 43

Re: GPL question

To get you right:
You wrote a software. Now you would like to distribute your software (for free?). But your code uses libraries which are under GPL. got it right?

As far as i know it's no problem. I think it's very common to do so.

bharani

Member

From: Karaikudi, India

Registered: 2009-07-12

Posts: 202

Re: GPL question

You own your code. Hence you can release it to public domain.If you are linking  against GPL libraries then only thing is that you should not place more restrictions than GPL itself on your code.

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AugustePop

Member

Registered: 2010-04-27

Posts: 95

Re: GPL question

Thank you for the quick replies. Seems it's OK to release my software to public domain. But if it is possible, why do we say that GPL is contagious? We don't have to use it in this case, right?

fsckd

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2009-06-15

Posts: 4,173

Re: GPL question

I was going to answer but this is a really complex topic which depends on your local laws, etc. My suggestion is to go to your local library and look up copyright law (or whatever they call it there) and consult a lawyer.

Where I live, public domain is the absence of copyright claims on a work. YMMV.

GPL is called "contagious" and "viral" usually by pugnacious opponents as some illogical form of denigration. (Hay guise, all licenses make limits on usage and/or distribution). But that may have no application to certain forms of "derivation". This varies by the license, legal classification of derivative work and so on.

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Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,094

Re: GPL question

If you link to GPL licensed libs, then you have to use a GPL compatible license for your code. That is my take on it anyway, and it's probably the most widespread view on it too.
If you want to be sure, either use a GPL compatible license, or don't use GPL licensed libs.

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2010-11-30 11:58:44)

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AugustePop

Member

Registered: 2010-04-27

Posts: 95

Re: GPL question

If you link to GPL licensed libs, then you have to use a GPL compatible license for your code. That is my take on it anyway, and it's probably the most widespread view on it too.
If you want to be sure, either use a GPL compatible license, or don't use GPL licensed libs.

The matter is I am not distributing anything that "links" to GPL licensed libs. I am distributing source code, that is pure text files can be viewed by text file viewers. The files themselves happens to be compilable and the compiled binary links to GPL licensed libs. But I think that should be a user choice, right?

Anyway, I think I need a lawyer as fsckd pointed out.

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,094

Re: GPL question

The matter is I am not distributing anything that "links" to GPL licensed libs. I am distributing source code, that is pure text files can be viewed by text file viewers. The files themselves happens to be compilable and the compiled binary links to GPL licensed libs. But I think that should be a user choice, right?

Anyway, I think I need a lawyer as fsckd pointed out.

Doesn't matter that you are distributing source only. If your code uses a GPL licensed lib, arguably, your code must be licensed under a GPL compatible license.

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2010-11-30 13:39:44)

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Trent

Member

From: Baltimore, MD (US)

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 990

Re: GPL question

It depends on the meaning of "derivative work".  Mr.Elendig has given you what I think is the most common interpretation.  Find a lawyer.

(The LGPL was designed for libraries and does not have this limitation.)