[ros-general] License issue with OpenSSL and ReactOS (GPL)

[Casper Hornstrup]

> > According to attorney Lawrence Rosen, whom specializes in technology,
> > dynamic linking of program A with program B does not make program A a
> > derivative work of program B. So if program B is GPL'ed then program A
> does
> > not need to be GPL compatible. So you could build a DLL from OpenSSL
> without
> > using GPL'ed code (like the GPL'ed ReactOS headers) and you could use
> that
> > DLL in your GPL'ed program without imposing restrictions from the GPL on
> the
> > non-GPL'ed program.
> 
> Probably this is true, legally spoken, but in the spirit of the GPL it
> does. It does according to RMS, so the next version of GPL might very
> well state something on linking explicitely. I'd think we better stay on
> the safe site. The GPL never really was a legal document anyway.
> 
> Mark

I'm still looking for any information on if the GPL has been challenged in
court and if so, what was ruled. Anyone got any information? Until the GPL
has been challenged in court, I believe RMS is wrong and he is just trying
to scare people of using free software with proprietary software because he
screwed up when he wrote the GPL.

Casper