From: Seebs Date: 2010-03-20T21:40:54+09:00 Subject: Re: Recommended way to install Rubygems On 2010-03-18, Austin Ziegler wrote: > Please don't repeat this, because as I pointed out on ruby-core, it's > not true. it's not illegal to load libreadline and openssl in the same > process; it's illegal to ship software that contains both. Neither the > OpenSSL license nor the GNU GPL address use or incidental in-memory > copies, only distribution. The issue is, historically, that the FSF has claimed that a program written to use the libreadline API is thereby a "derivative work" of libreadline. A while back, they were arguing that the only way this would be untrue would be if someone were to create a call-compatible "readline" implementation, so that code couldn't be shown to be unable to work without libreadline. Which is funny, because I know of at least one such implementation dating back to 1992. Rich $alz posted it, with these terms: X Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose on X any computer system, and to alter it and redistribute it freely, subject X to the following restrictions: X 1. The authors are not responsible for the consequences of use of this X software, no matter how awful, even if they arise from flaws in it. X 2. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented, either by X explicit claim or by omission. Since few users ever read sources, X credits must appear in the documentation. X 3. Altered versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be X misrepresented as being the original software. Since few users X ever read sources, credits must appear in the documentation. X 4. This notice may not be removed or altered. (Yes, it was a shar script.) Long story short: There hasn't been a problem with stuff merely designed to work with readline or something compatible with it since 1992 or possibly earlier. -s -- Copyright 2010, all wrongs reversed. Peter Seebach / usenet-nospam@seebs.net http://www.seebs.net/log/ <-- lawsuits, religion, and funny pictures http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_(Scientology) <-- get educated!