Re: [smartquant] Re: GPL license violation? [GNU Scientific Library]

[Edwin Robert Tisdale <E dot Robert dot Tisdale at jpl dot nasa dot gov>]

Brian Gough wrote:

> Edwin Robert Tisdale writes:
>
> > Anton may distribute his software without the GSL
> > so that customers would be obliged to obtain the GSL
> > (or another library using the same API) separately
> > and link them together themselves.
>
> I don't think any lawyer
> is going to recommend that as a business model..

Lawyers don't recommend any business model.
They advise their clients on the law.

> Attempting to circumvent a license is illegal too.

I think that you are reading too much into the GPL.

Anton Fokin doesn't need to comply with the GPL
if he doesn't distribute the GSL with his program.
His customers can obtain the GSL from another source
and link it into his code themselves as long as
they don't distribute the GSL with Anton's program.
There is nothing in the GPL or copyright law
that would prevent them from doing so.
It was never the intent of the GPL
to prevent them from doing so.
Your lawyers would advise you that
you would be foolish to sue anybody that did so.
Threatening to do so will not win any friends for the GSL.

I have advised and still advise people to avoid the GSL.
Using the GSL under the GPL simply invites
the copyright holder, the author or any of their customers
to sue them even if they comply with the terms of the GPL.

Please, Brian, if you want people to use the GSL,
try to be a little more helpful and a little less confrontational.