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List:       kde-licensing
Subject:    Re: QT Designer _NOT_ under QPL.
From:       Kevin Forge <forge () myrealbox ! com>
Date:       2000-08-19 1:49:56
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Peter S Galbraith wrote:
> 
> mosfet wrote:
> 
> > Peter S Galbraith wrote:
> > > Here's an idea.  They could ask RMS and the FSF lawyers if they
> > > are happy with it before they make it final.  No, that would be
> > > too easy.
> >
> > They already are. Troll Tech is putting a lot of effort into trying to
> > work with RMS in order to get something compatible, but the general
> > impression is the only license that will be publically supported is the
> > GPL itself, even if it's legally compatible.
> 
> If the FSF says it's GPL-compatible, then it will surely be publically
> accepted.

Exactly why they are talking to RMS.  
 
> > From what I know of Troll Tech is willing to put Qt under the GPL but
> > they need to be assured that commercial companies won't take their code
> > (and believe me they have reasons to fear this, although I'm not going
> > to describe details). While the GPL is supposed to prevent this, both
> > Troll Tech's lawyers and Lineo's have reviewed the GPL and found that
> > legally this is highly debatable. This isn't something that just TT has
> > to worry about, it's a problem with anyone making a GPL library.
> 
> I don't know of any problems with the GPL wrt use for libraries.
> Why is it different than for applications?

The GPL dose not govern use.  Dynamically linking to a library is using 
it rather than deriving from it.  This caries some waste when you
realize
that being linked to is the sole purpose of a library.  
 
> > Thus from what I am aware of Troll Tech is talking to RMS and hoping the
> > next version of the GPL gives them the protection needed from this type
> > of thing in a binding way. If it does they would switch to that. In the
> > meantime they have to use varients of the QPL.
> 
> Putting designer under the GPL and telling the world they use the
> GPL to license their Qt-linked apps won't help Troll get on RMS'
> good side.  They appear to prefer the defiant approach.

Actually Troll didn't say a damned thing.  
I did.

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