Re: Undistributable java in main

[Dalibor Topic <robilad@kaffe.org>]

Hi Etienne,

Etienne Gagnon wrote:
> Hi Arnaud,
>
> Arnaud Vandyck wrote:
>
> > > Anyway, we're switching kaffe's class library over to GNU Classpath, 
> > > which is GPL + linking exception, and that should make the people who 
> > > support FSFs interpretation happy, too, as GNU Classpath explicitely 
> > > allows linking to it.
>
>
> This won't necessarily change anything for Kaffe, as long as Kaffe itself
> is licensed under the GPL without any exception, as classpath classes do
> link with the underlying JVM [this is required to implement things like
> reflection].  So, I restate my argumnet clearly:
>
> Kaffe (GPL) + Classpath (GPL+linking exception) + Ant (apache license)
> => cannot be run, as running causes linking. Linking (statically or
> dynamically) is a form of modification in the FSF's opinion.

GPL says:

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.

As running is clearly not covered under GPL, your argument doesn't work.

cheers,
dalibor topic