From: urlichs@smurf.sub.org (Matthias Urlichs) Subject: Re: ALPHA-pl11 available on nic: C++ support Date: 11 Jul 1993 20:02:46 +0200
In comp.os.linux, article <C9v3uI.3A@bigcomm.gun.de>,
ado@bigcomm.gun.de (Christoph Adomeit) writes:
> urlichs@smurf.sub.org (Matthias Urlichs) writes:
>
> >If the driver is compiled with the appropriate C++ headers it will link
> >without any problems.
>
> Which commercial vendor could include the "appropriate C++ headers" without
> violating the GPL ?
You're not distributing any GPL code, you're merely using GPL'd software or
tools which use it. So including the headers isn't a problem; the GPL does
state that using GPL tools to create your work is OK.
However, RMS has said that he considers code linked to GPL code as derived
work, therefore falling under the GPL, therefore you've indeed got problems...
but only with the kernel. Ideally, the kernel could be converted to the GLPL
(the library version of the GPL, which expressly allows linking).
I for one wouldn't be opposed to that; in fact, speaking as a consultant,
sometimes I just can't release source code (eg, for a device driver), and
I realy would like to have a better option than telling the customer "you
lose -- buy different hardware". Especially if no different hardware is
available.
386BSD has no such problem, but I don't want to use that either. ;-)
--
The medium is the massage.
-- Crazy Nigel
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