Chuck Swiger wrote:
> What if WE made an AV plugin DLL to link our software with libclamav?
If your software license isn't GPL-miscible, then you should not
redistribute the combination of your software, the plugin, and
ClamAV.
Isn't this a case where the component they've linked with (in this
case) ClamAV would need to be GPL, but the other component it talks
to doesn't need to be ?
I'm assuming these are separate units - ie there's the closed main
system, and the GPL plugin code linked with ClamAV.
The fact that the closed main system is distributed alongside the GPL
code doesn't mean it has to be GPL - provided they are clear in the
documentation etc which parts are closed, and which are GPL. Very
much a flip round of the case where software uses non-free libraries
(http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#FSWithNFLibs)
Also,
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySystem
says :
However, in many cases you can distribute the GPL-covered software
alongside your proprietary system. To do this validly, you must make
sure that the free and non-free programs communicate at arms length,
that they are not combined in a way that would make them effectively
a single program.
It then goes on to say :
The difference between this and "incorporating" the GPL-covered
software is partly a matter of substance and partly form. The
substantive part is this: if the two programs are combined so that
they become effectively two parts of one program, then you can't
treat them as two separate programs. So the GPL has to cover the
whole thing.
My interpretation of this would be that in the case the OP asked
about, provided he makes the plugin a distinctly separate program
(and GPLs any code he adds to the GPLd code to make it work with his
API) then it would qualify. It would require the plugin to be
separate and optional - but i see no reason it can't be shipped on
the same disk.
The GPL is actually not as all encompasing and restricted as many
believe - it *IS* possible to combine GPL and non-free software in a
system if you do it right, and using GPL software does *NOT*
automatically mean the entire system has to be GPL. Perpetuating
these myths doesn't do anyone any good.
If in doubt, the OP could always as FSF who I'm sure would be quite
happy to have someone ask them rather than make assumptions and/or
get it wrong. I dare say they'd be happier if the whole lot was GPLd,
but Rome wasn't built in a day.
--
Simon Hobson
Visit http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk/ for books by acclaimed
author Gladys Hobson. Novels - poetry - short stories - ideal as
Christmas stocking fillers. Some available as e-books.
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