Question about Cygwin License

[Larry Hall]

Marcel Telka wrote:

> On Thu, Jun 19, 2003 at 06:46:03PM -0400, Sam Steingold wrote:
> 
>>>* Honorable Marcel Telka <marcel@telka.sk> writes:
>>>
>>>On Thu, Jun 19, 2003 at 05:51:44PM -0400, Cary Lewis wrote:
>>>
>>>>I want to use cygwin with a proprietary system. 
>>>>
>>>>As I do not want to publish my source code, I know I need a "breakout"
>>>>license from RedHat.
>>>>
>>>>I am not changing cygwin, I am simply using the cygwin.dll to get a Unix 
>>>>based system to run under Windows.
>>>
>>>Cite from GNU GPL <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>:
>>>
>>>Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
>>>covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of
>>>running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program
>>>is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the Program
>>>(independent of having been made by running the Program). Whether that
>>>is true depends on what the Program does.
>>
>>linking against a GNU GPL (not LGPL!) library makes your program GPL,
>>even if the library is dynamic (DLL).
>>
>><http://cvs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/*checkout*/clisp/clisp/doc/Why-CLISP-is-under-GPL?rev=HEAD>
>>
>>therefore, if you distribute a program which relies on cygwin.dll
>>(which, IIUC, is released under the GNU GPL), you have to either
> 
> 
> What about this situation?
> 
> My program depends on cygwin.dll, but there are two implementations of the
> library: one with GNU/GPL license and another one with, say, BSD-like
> license.
> 
> Should I (in this situation) release my program under GNU/GPL terms?


Can I ask that we steer away from hypotheticals, at least on this
list?  We're talking about Cygwin and it's licenses.  You have a
choice of GPL, a compatible open-source license, or the "buy-out"
license (see <http://cygwin.com/licensing.html>).  Since these license
discussions can get tiresome quickly even when they stay on-topic, it's
best to keep as focused as possible.  The list appreciates your efforts
in this regard.


-- 
Larry Hall                              http://www.rfk.com
RFK Partners, Inc.                      (508) 893-9779 - RFK Office
838 Washington Street                   (508) 893-9889 - FAX
Holliston, MA 01746


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