Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (4600 mails)

[expatriate <lbox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Anders Johansson wrote:

> On Thursday 22 January 2004 19:04, expatriate wrote:
>  
>
> > Hello Everyone.
> >
> > I'm going to embark on a project that will require me to butt heads with
> > some high-level kahunas regarding Linux. I work for a very very big
> > company that has enormous clout but is not as risk-taking as I would
> > like them to be. Anyway my question is: If we decide to use a standard
> > distribution of Linux, are we forced to publish our own source code if
> > we statically or dynamically link to GPL libraries, use gcc to compile
> > and  use  GPL header files?
> >    
>
> First of all, you only have to publish source for anything if you distribute 
> the programs you develop. If you just use things in-house there is nothing in 
> the GPL that requires you to distribute anything under any circumstances
>
> Having said that, if you do link a product you develop either statically or 
> dynamically to GPL licensed libraries, then yes, you have to distribute the 
> source for your code. This is why a lot of libraries are licensed under the 
> LGPL, which doesn't have this requirement.
>
> Either way though, you'd only have to distribute the source to the people who 
> buy/download your software.
>
> If you just use gcc to develop your source, and not use any GPLed code in any 
> other way, there is also no requirement to GPL your own code. This is all  
> explained in the GPL FAQ at www.gnu.org
>
>  
>
> > I'm getting different  answers from 
> > different sources. We are not planning  to change the kernel in any way.
> > Maybe  create  our own drivers for proprietary hardware and install them
> > at runtime.
> >    
>
> Again, if you just use things for your own benefit and don't distribute things 
> to others, the GPL places no requirements on you whatsoever.
>  

OK. I think I get the point . This may not  be a battle I can win. Now I 
need to find out what libraries are LGPL.  We manufacture high-precision 
multi-million dollar equipment and our clients are not at all interested 
in the source code. However, our competitors might be and it would not 
be good for us to reveal the source code to them (via the usual 
shenanigans of employee/vendor revolving doors). It seems to me that if 
we develop a million-line program that uses pthreads we are forced to 
release the entire source to our vendors. Check mate from our legal 
department.