On 2004-09-24 11:59:36 +0200, Lionel Bouton wrote: > Peter J. Holzer wrote the following on 09/23/2004 12:53 PM : > > >What Remi can do: > > > >1) Write a program (not using any ClamAV source code) which can read the > > ClamAV database (he did that already). This doesn't violate the GPL. > > I won't bet a penny on this : as long as the only usable database is > clamav's one, It may very well be that such a program is a "derivated > work" as it is clearly not usable without clamav dbs.
Useability is in the eye of the user. For some users, a small database
containing only the current viruses may be just as useful as clamav's
database which recognizes 23000+ of them. You could also build a
signature file which contains signatures of old MS-Office versions so
that you can identify old office documents and convert them to the
current version. Or whatever.
In any case, it is irrelevant, whether there is only one file with this
format or lots of them. The GPL clearly states in section 0:
| The "Program", below, refers to any such program or work, and a "work
| based on the Program" means either the Program or any derivative work
| under copyright law: that is to say, a work containing the Program or a
| portion of it, either verbatim or with modifications and/or translated
| into another language.
If you don't include the database or a portion of it in the distributed
copy of your program, you don't violate the GPL.
> >2) Create a small database with only a few signatures (don't look at the
> > ClamAV db, make this yourself). This also doesn't violate the GPL.
> >
> >3) Distribute your program with your own database. This also doesn't
> > violate the GPL.
> >
> >4) Users will download the ClamAV database and use it with your program.
> > This is also perfectly legitimate.
>
> Is it ? Don't they knowingly link a non-GPL program against a GPL
> library ?
Firstly I doubt that the database can be viewed as a library used by the
program. If that was the case you wouldn't be allowed to read
documentation under the GFDL with notepad.exe, which is clearly not
intended by the FSF.
Secondly, the GPL doesn't forbid the user to link non-GPL and GPL code.
In fact, everybody who links their program on windows or a proprietary
unix, or against the libraries of a propietary database does this.
It also doesn't forbid the user to make non-GPLed modifications.
These restrictions only apply if you distribute the resulting combined
work.
hp
--
_ | Peter J. Holzer | Je höher der Norden, desto weniger wird
|_|_) | Sysadmin WSR | überhaupt gesprochen, also auch kein Dialekt.
| | | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Hallig Gröde ist fast gänzlich dialektfrei.
__/ | http://www.hjp.at/ | -- Hannes Petersen in desd
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