RE: The term _linking_ in the licence

["Dave Korn" <dave dot korn at artimi dot com>]

----Original Message----
>From: David E. Meier
>Sent: 16 June 2005 16:13

> Hi list,
> 
> I am confused about the GPL licence. Both suggested sites for reading
> before posting to this list about licencing only mention 'linking' with
> other programs.
> 
> I face the following siuation:
> 
> I have written a program in C# that makes use of tools like ssh, rsync and
> some bash shell built-ins. The C# program is the main .exe and does not
> link to any of the GPL-programs while building and therefore the C# binary
> does not contain any cygwin code. 

  Bear in mind there's also such a thing as runtime linking... If you
LoadLibrary ("cygwin1.dll") and GetProcAddress a function and call it, that
counts as linking and your app must be GPL'd.

>The GPL-exe's are called as system calls at runtime via the cmd.exe.
> 
> Does the C# program need to be redistributed under the GPL as well?

  However, as Igor said, as long as the executables and process spaces are
completely separate, you will have no problem.  The GPL spreads out within a
single process space, but it is not conveyed across IPC mechanisms!

  And also, bear in mind that if you're distributing the ssh/rsync/bash
binaries along with your app, you need to provide (or offer to provide) the
sources for them.

    cheers,
      DaveK
-- 
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