RE: People, not GPL [was: Re: Driver Model]

David Schwartz
2003-09-12T21:17:42Z

> > Licenses that place restrictions on usage are *not* open
> > source licenses.

> What about "usage" of source code?

Same thing.

> GPL says you are not allowed to "use" GPL source in a non-free program
> that you publish.

This is a publication restriction, not a usage restriction. Your phrasing
above is like saying, "you can't put bullets into a gun that you use to
shoot a police officer". The restriction is on the shooting, not the
loading.

Again, quoting the GPL:

Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of
running the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program
is covered only if its contents constitute a work based on the
Program (independent of having been made by running the Program).
Whether that is true depends on what the Program does.

> I don't think anyone was talking about use of applications, but rather
> use of source code.

I'm not sure why you think this is an important distinction.

DS