From: Jim Cain Date: 2003-06-28T14:10:01+09:00 Subject: Re: DBD for Oracle9i Jim Cain wrote: > KUBO Takehiro wrote: > >> Jim Cain writes: >> >> >>>> Last one question about the licence. Will you release your ruby-Oracle >>>> interface under the GPL? Or LGPL? >>>> >>>> The GPLed extension library which links to a closed-source library >>>> causes license violation. The LGPLed library will cause no >>>> problem. I'm not certain about LGPL. I've not read the license term of >>>> the LGPL in detail. >>>> >>>> Cheers >>> >>> >>> The LGPL allows linking into a non-free program, and only changes to >>> the library itself must be freely available. >> >> >> >> I've been sure that. A non-free program which links to the LGPLed >> library is a "work that uses the Library" in the term of the LGPL. >> What I'm not certain is about the "work that is used by the Library". >> I've not read the license of the LGPL in that context. >> >> I read it now and found the following statements in the section 6. >> >> It may happen that this requirement contradicts the license >> restrictions of other proprietary libraries that do not normally >> accompany the operating system. Such a contradiction means you >> cannot use both them and the Library together in an executable that >> you distribute. >> >> The Oracle client library is a proprietary library and doesn't >> accompany the operating system. Hmm, contrary to my expectations the >> LGPL may not allow linking _to_ a non-free library. >> >> Well, I'm not familiar with legal terms. So I'll not say again about >> license. >> >> Cheers > > > Just reading this excerpt, I notice the sentence: > > Such a contradiction means you cannot use both them and the Library > together in an executable that you distribute. > > My library and the Oracle client library will not be distributed > together. It is up to the user of my library to acquire and install the > Oracle client library. Oh, I should have added... a copyright-holder using the LGPL, or even GPL, is free to add a special exemption for a specific non-free library which it requires.