Re: XForms GPL exception...

[Peter S Galbraith <GalbraithP@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>]

Tom Lear wrote:

> I'm writing the author of xfmix to request an exception for xforms, but
> I'm not clear on a point of our suggested exception.
> 
> + You may link this software with XForms (Copyright (C) by T.C. Zhao and 
> + Mark Overmars) and distribute the resulting binary, under the
> + restrictions in clause 3 of the GPL, even though the resulting binary is
> + not, as a whole, covered by the GPL. (You still need a separate license
> + to do so from the owner(s) of the copyright for XForms, however).  If a
> + derivative no longer requires XForms, you may use the unsupplemented GPL
> + as its license by deleting this paragraph and therefore removing this
> + exemption for XForms.
> 
> "(You still need a separate license to do so from the owner(s) of the
> copyright for XForms, however)" seems to me to say that you need a
> separate license from the xforms people to distribute the binary
> regardless of the exception.  Is that right?  That would mean that we need
> a separate license from the xforms people.
> 							- Tom

Anyone can feel free to correct me on this...  Now's the time to
do it!

I interpret that sentence as clarifying the point that the binary
is linked to a library, and thus we need `permission' to
distribute the part of the binary that is XForms code.  We have
that permissiom from the XForms license:

  Permission to use, copy, and distribute this software in its entirety
  for non-commercial purposes and without fee, is hereby granted, provided
  that the above copyright notice and this permission notice appear
  in all copies and their documentation. 
  
  If you intend to use xforms commercially, this includes in-house
  use and consulting, you must contact the authors at 
  xforms@world.std.com for a license arrangement. Running a publicly 
  available freeware that requires xforms is not considered commercial use.
  
  This software is provided "as is" without expressed or implied
  warranty of any kind.
  
  You may not "bundle" and distribute this software with commercial
  systems and/or other distribution media without prior consent of the 
  authors.

Since xfmix is `publicly available freeware' anyone is free to
use, copy, and distribute it, including the linked XForms code,
even for use by a business since that's not considered
commercial use.

Peter