Re: Clarification on GPL

[Arun Sharma <arun@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Jan 05, 2001 at 10:59:58AM -0800, Sudhakar Chandra wrote:
> Sandip Bhattacharya proclaimed:
> > 1. Does any software based on a library, which is under GPL(not LGPL),
> > have  to be released under GPL too? Even if the GPLed library is nor part
> > of the software distribution, but is marked required in the installation
> > instructions. I mean the user is asked to install the library separatly?
> 
> The software which links against a GPL-ed library is required to be GPL-ed
> too.  This is the viral nature of GPL at work.

That's what GPL tells you. IANAL, but some lawyers say that it is hard
to prove in a court that your software is a "derived" work of the GPL'ed
library.

In other words, the "correct" answer will be known, when it is tested in
a court.

	-Arun