Re: Re (2): testing before a release

[Etienne M. Gagnon]

Stuart Ballard wrote:

> It's possible to modify a GPL'd app to use a proprietary library, and
> run that, too, so long as you don't distribute the result (the fact that
> the modified app is a derived work is clearer in this case, too).
>
> The GPL only kicks in for distribution. Period. If that's not the case,
> then I've been very much misled in every licensing discussion I've ever
> had, and by the GPL FAQ and other FSF documents on the GPL. And if
> that's true then someone ought to really raise a stink, because I doubt
> I'm the only one.


Here's an edited extract of an email between RMS and myself about the subject.

...
RMS: You're assuming that "making normal use" cannot be making a derived work.
  That assumption is not right, though.  Making normal use of a module
  CAN be making a derived work.  For example, for a library, normal use
  is ALWAYS making a derived work.

Etienne: So, what would be your answer to the question:
    "Can I run proprietary Java applications and native JNI libraries under
    Kaffe?"

RMS: My answer would be, no you can't.

Etienne: How come "running" a non-free Java program on Kaffe would violate
      the GPL license?  This is a point I have difficulty to understand.

RMS: Because it is linking the two together.
...
Etienne: Just to confirm that I now understand correctly...
  Linking (dynamic and/or static) of an GPL work "A" with another work "B"
  is addressed by clause 2 of the GPL, namely: "you may *modify* your
  copy...".  This is because linking "A" with "B" does *modify* "A".

  The analogy would be to say that "linking" a work by Shakespeare (which
  is in the public domain) with an "introduction and commentary" does
  create a derived work, even though no word has been changed in
  Shakespeare's text.  So, the simple act of "linking" constitutes a
  modification of the original work.  Right?

RMS: Right.  It makes a collective or combined work.

Now, you can ask RMS for clarifications, if you want.

Etienne
--
Etienne M. Gagnon                    http://www.info.uqam.ca/~egagnon/
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