Re: GPLv2 licensing issues

[Hubert Chathi]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:41:20 -0500 "Stefan Bidigaray"
<address@hidden> wrote:

> Hmm... I just got to this portion of the FAQ:
> http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#AllCompatibility

Ah, thanks.  That's a very helpful table.

> And it seems that if you have a LGPLv3 library you cannot like a
> GPLv2 only program to it.  I guess I'm more confused now.  I've
> always had the understanding that GPL software can be dynamically
> linked against software under any license, however this goes against
> that understanding.

No, GPLed software can be linked against libraries whose license is
compatible with the GPL, since the GPL requires that the combined work
be distributable under the terms of the GPL.  In particular, this means
that the license of any software that the application links against
cannot have any more requirements other than what is included in the
GPL.  However the LGPLv3 has additional requirements above what the
GPLv2 has (e.g. the anti-DRM stuff).  That causes the LGPLv3 to be
incompatible with the GPLv2.

(There are other licenses that are incompatible with the GPLv2, such as
the Apache license.)

-- 
Hubert Chathi - Email/Jabber: address@hidden - http://www.uhoreg.ca/
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