Re: [GPL] No linking with proprietary programs: where?

[tb@MIT.EDU (Thomas Bushnell, BSG)]

Brian Kimball <bfk@footbag.org> writes:

> >   2) If locate_inner_otter is not derived from find_outer_otter, but
> >      you distribute binaries for frob-otters, then you must still give
> >      the complete source code for both locate_inner_otter and
> >      find_outer_otter.  The reason is that the GPL lets you copy
> >      find_outer_otter only if you distribute the "the whole on the
> >      terms of this License."
> 
> If locate_inner_otter isn't derived from find_outer_otter, how can it be
> considered part of "the modified work as a whole" which the requirements
> apply to?  Doesn't "modified work as a whole" mean "(something derived
> from find_outer_otter) as a whole"?

No.  The "modified work as a whole" means the entire work, even if
only part of it contains GPL'd code.  You cannot distribute the GPL'd
code at all unless you also distribute (under its terms) the entire
program it is part of.  

This is not because the entire program is inherently a modified work,
but because you want to distribute GPL'd code, and the copyright owner
has the right to attach whatever conditions he chooses.  In the case
of the GPL, one of the attached conditions is to distribute the whole
program in question, not just the GPL'd functions.