Re: Linking a GPL'd library to a LGPL'd one

[Rafael Laboissiere <rafael@icp.inpg.fr>]

* Raul Miller <moth@debian.org> [2001-07-22 08:46]:

> On Sun, Jul 22, 2001 at 12:39:03PM +0200, Rafael Laboissiere wrote:
> > I need an advice about library license.
> > 
> > If I develop a library L1 that links to another library L2 which is
> > GPL'd, could I release L1 under the LGPL, or am I forced to release L1
> > under the GPL?
> 
> You're not forced to release L1, so you're not forced to release L1
> under the GPL.
> 
> The obvious problem you can create for yourself, here, involves releasing
> L1 under a license which isn't compatible with the GPL -- this would
> mean that people couldn't really use your library until that issue was
> resolved (though they could, of course, still read it).
> 
> So: either license will work.

My problem here is the following: let us say that L1 is released under the
LGPL. Now, imagine that some non-free software links against L1.  "No
problem, L1 is LGPL'd", you would say.  But, hey!, L1 links against L2,
which is GPL'd.  This means, that, in practical terms, L1 can only be used
by packages with GPL-compatible licenses, which means that the licensing
terms of L1 are, after all, equivalent to the GPL.  So, although L1 is
released under the LGPL, it is actually GPL'd (by the fact that is links
against L2). 

Am I misunderstanding something here?
 
-- 
Rafael Laboissiere