Re: Bug#189164: libdbd-mysql-perl uses GPL lib, may be used by GPL-incompatible apps

[Nathanael Nerode <neroden@twcny.rr.com>]

Jakob Bohm said:
>Anyway, I thought the common GPL linking claim was that the
>runtime in-memory process image includes a copy of the GPL code
>and is thus a derivative of that copy.

But this "derivative" (if you assume that it is a derived work) is 
created by the user on their home computer, and is not redistributed. 
Since it's not "distributed or published", it's not subject to the GPL's 
'viral' requirements under section 2b:

>b)  You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part 
>thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties 
>under the terms of this License.

(Emphasis mine)

This is why the runtime in-memory state of the dynamically linked code 
is not directly relevant to the GPL's 'virality'.

--Nathanael