Re: [tlug] JFS file system license

[Joe Larabell <fred62@example.com>]

On Thu, 30 Oct 2008, Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:

> It is known (tested in court, I believe) that both forms of linking
> result in a derived work in memory, and that static linking results in
> a derived work in a file...

But (and I may have missed this particular tree in the otherwise rich 
forest of that last post), the derived work in memory only exists on the 
user's machine. Since the restrictions of the GPL apply to distribution 
and not to mere use, the actual linking by the end-user would not be 
subject to the GPL requirements unless that user somehow managed to 
distribute a copy of his in-memory linked image. And, even then, it would 
be the end user in violation and not the author of the application.

So... if you're right about use of the API being a red-herring (and I 
happen to believe it is, for all the reasons you already gave), then there 
should be no fear when dynamic-linking to a GPL library from a non-GPL 
application. Is that pretty much what you're saying?

---
Joseph L (Joe) Larabell            Never fight with a dragon
http://larabell.org/                    for thou art crunchy
http://thelemicleague.org/        and goest well with cheese.