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Re: GPL Apps linked to Qt/Windows
by Toojays on Tuesday 13/Apr/2004, @05:54
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The crux of what you are saying is that the result of merely linking to a library should not create a derived work of that library. Without going into the legalities of the GPL, I would point out that this goes against the spirit of Free Software. Even just the freedom to study the source code to see how it works is kind of meaningless if part of "how the program works" is tied up in a non-Free library. Now the GPL has a special execption for non-Free operating system components, because back when it was written we didn't really have a Free operating system. (Who knows whether the next version of the GPL will have that exception? What about GPLv4?)
Another point to consider is that GPL does not just enable to you access the source code, but allows for further distribution. For instance, I can download a version of LyX which is linked against Qt non-commercial 2.3. If this is really licensed under the GPL, then I should be able to put it on a CD and sell it for real money. However, if I did that, I would not be able to fulfil section 3 of the GPL, _and_ I would be using non-commercial Qt for commercial purposes. Surely I am not free to do this. So here you have a piece of software which has had its freedom reduced by linking against a non-free library.
I hope this helps you understand why they couldn't do this, if not I am happy to continue the discussion. |
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