Re: MSVC runtime library license problem

[John W. Eaton]

On 23-Jan-2007, David Bateman wrote:

| I think that is too strict an interpretation.. Why do OS libraries get
| special treatment?

Because of the following statement in section 3 of the GPL:

  The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
  making modifications to it.  For an executable work, complete source
  code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
  associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to
  control compilation and installation of the executable.  However, as a
  special exception, the source code distributed need not include
  anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary
  form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the
  operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component
  itself accompanies the executable.

However, I was forgetting the very last part.  So it seems it would be
OK to distribute a binary copy of Octave linked with the MSVC runtime
libraries IF you can consider them a component of the OS AND IF you
are allowed by the terms of their license to bundle and distribute
them with your application.

| Why can I link a GPL program to a closed source OS
| library, but not to a closed source compiler support library?

As I understand it, the OS exception was a pragmatic choice because at
the time the GPL was written, most (all?) systems that GPL software
ran on were non-free, with non-free compilers and support libraries.

In any case, this  clause is a bit vague because of what might be
considered as part of the OS.

| Ok, so if the key is distribution in the above can we please have an
| exception for linking against compiler support libraries. I know in the
| past you've state no change to the GPL due to the effort needed to find
| all the authors and ask permission. However, it seems to me that this
| exemption only affects compiled code, so that must limit the number of
| people to contact significantly.

I don't see how that changes anything.  It would still be a change in
the terms of the license.

jwe