Re: GPL-licensed packages with depend-chain to OpenSSL

[Anthony DeRobertis <asd@suespammers.org>]

On Sep 10, 2004, at 17:15, Raul Miller wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 10, 2004 at 04:38:04PM -0400, Glenn Maynard wrote:
> > So, you don't need an extreme example.  It's perfectly valid for one 
> > to
> > take Emacs, link it against OpenSSL, and distribute binaries, as long 
> > as
> > OpenSSL doesn't accompany it.
>
> In the U.S., at least, "linking it against OpenSSL" probably counts as
> "accompanying it", even if the binaries for the OpenSSL library do not
> appear on the same distribution media as the binaries for Emacs.

Why?

> > This only becomes a problem when Debian, or some other OS distributor,
> > wants to distribute those binaries.
>
> Can you name any legal principles (or cite any court precedents) to 
> back
> up your point of view?

Ummm, this is a specific clause of the GPL. Please go read GPL (3) 
again. Notice the exception for things that normally come with an OS; 
and the caveat on that exception that it isn't valid they accompany the 
(GPL'd) executable.