Re: no need to keep non-copylefted files that way in a copylefted project. (was Re: FRR package in Debian violates the GPL licence)

[Ole Streicher <olebole@debian.org>]

Giacomo Tesio <giacomo@tesio.it> writes:
> The current construct is a violation of the GPL term as that code is
> derivative of GPL code for all intents and purposes. So much that it
> cannot even compile without the GPL code.

For the license of source code, it is not required that it compiles.

And, taking out a portion of the code (a single algorithm or so) that
does not depend on GPL code and to re-use it elsewehere is a normal and
intended use for an open source program. It is one of the goals of
having a program open source.

And if the code is a modified copy (this is what the GPL actually
protects), you should prove that: show the code in question, show the
original (GPL) code and show how it was modified.

Best

Ole