Re: LGPL module linked with a GPL lib
On 7/28/05, Michael Poole <mdpoole@troilus.org> wrote:
> What statute or case law supports this position? Comparison to
> Grokster et al doesn't hold, for reasons that should have been
> obvious: The GPL explicitly allows a user to use and modify code in
> any way the user sees appropriate; section 2 only kicks in when you
> "copy and distribute such modifications." The standard way that one
> uses GPLed program is by linking its compiled form with other works at
> runtime. It is simply bizarre to suggest that a software author is
> liable for contributory copyright infringement by providing a means
> for a user to do something that the user is explicitly permitted to
> do.
I don't think that the point is that people would be going to jail for
violating the GPL.
GPL violators appear to face several potential penalties:
(*) Works they hold copyright on might be released under the terms of the GPL
when they thought they could get away with not doing that.
(*) They might be forced to pay someone else to release their work under GPL
terms.
(*) They might be forced to stop distribution of some work where they don't
have the proper rights available to them.
Obviously there would be cases where one or more of these would not apply,
but if none of these apply that's probably because they're not violating the
terms of the GPL.
--
Raul
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