Hi, I am the author of an opensource library that reimplements a closed-source library.
I want the libary to be a fully compatible runtime and compile-time replacement for the closed-source one, so I have no choice but to use the exact same symbol names in my header. What I do is I take the header of the closed-source library, wipe out the comments and elaborated macros, and then implement all the functions of the exposed API in a .c file. As a consequence, there is very little actual difference between my header and the one of the closed-source library. The question is: what copyright issues could I possibly be exposed to? I've been asking the question to wine developpers [1], who have to deal with the same kind of issues, but since I intent to package my work for debian, I would be more comfortable if someone confirmed me it is ok to do what I do, and if it is not, how I can fix it. PS: the project in question is more a "proxy" towards the closed source library than a real reimplementation, but technically I actually reimplement every function of their header. If you are interested, it is hosted here [2]. Cheers, Christophe-Marie [1]: http://www.winehq.org/pipermail/wine-devel/2012-June/095854.html [2]: http://code.google.com/p/lazylpsolverlibs/ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-mentors-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/cahlp1yn3zzs8-7aygot7vd1ubtke96vmnysecv1zpo_o3rj...@mail.gmail.com
