GPL (not LGPL) in libio and restrictions

[Mark Kettenis]

Interesting.  I think there is a loophole wich makes it possible to
use a libc that contains libio under all circumstances:

   As a special exception, if you link this library with files
   compiled with a GNU compiler to produce an executable, this does
   not cause the resulting executable to be covered by the GNU General
   Public License.

As a long as you link the executable with at least one file compiled
with a GNU compiler that's not part of libio itself.  For glibc this is
always the case since it is only possible to compile glibc with gcc.

However, it doesn't look very good, and will no doubt lead to rants
about the FSF not respecting their own license.  Since the FSF owns the
copyright on libio, we could ask them to relicense those parts of
libio that are in glibc under the LGPL, or add a special exception for
glibc.

By the way, IIRC, on Linux libc5 did also include parts of libio.
Could be used as ammunition against any FSF/glibc bashers.

Mark