This is the mail archive of the
gsl-discuss@sources.redhat.com
mailing list for the GSL project.
Re: GPL - GSL and derivative work.
- To: gsl-discuss at sources dot redhat dot com
- Subject: Re: GPL - GSL and derivative work.
- From: Mark Galassi <rosalia at galassi dot org>
- Date: 14 Aug 2001 13:55:35 -0600
- References: <3B795359.52F50392@jpl.nasa.gov>
Edwin> An application program does not "require" the GSL just
Edwin> because it uses the same API. I don't think that you can
Edwin> copyright an API. Anyone could implement the GSL API
Edwin> without infringing on the GSL copyright.
There is a discussion of these issues on the GNU web pages which
matches what I say and is a legal opinion backed by the FSF's legal
counsel.
If another identical API exists then you have a grey area. People
have done the trick (in other software) of writing a low-quality
compatible API that was public domain instead of GPLed
Regarding your comments on the use of the GPL instead of the LGPL, we
are a GNU project and there are very clear reasons for the GNU project
to promote using the GPL instead of the Lesser GPL for almost all
libraries. See:
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/why-not-lgpl.html