Re: [smartquant] Re: GPL license violation? [GNU Scientific Library]

[Ferdinando Ametrano <ferdinando at ametrano dot net>]

Robert Tisdale wrote:
>Anton Fokin doesn't need to comply with the GPL
>if he doesn't distribute the GSL with his program.
This is simply not true. Please do not state your opinion as truth.
Anton Fokin do need to comply with the GPL if his software R-Quant needs 
GSL to work.
That is if R-Quant includes GSL wrappers R-Quant must be GPL.
This is not just my opinion: it has always been made clear by FSF.

>His customers can obtain the GSL from another source
>and link it into his code themselves as long as
>they don't distribute the GSL with Anton's program.
That's true: any R-Quant user can *extend* R-Quant functionality adding GSL 
as long as
they don't re-distribute GSL with R-Quant.
This is not true anymore if R-Quant needs GSL to work: in this case R-Quant 
is derivative software and must be GPL.

>Please, Brian, if you want people to use the GSL,
>try to be a little more helpful and a little less confrontational.
if you want people to use GSL, teach them about what is free software.
I said free software, not stolen software.

>I have advised and still advise people to avoid the GSL.
Avoid GSL if you don't want your software to be GPL. This is what I do in 
the free software project I founded (http://quantlib.org), since I 
preferred BSD-style license.
I regret I cannot use GSL, but I respect and support Brian decision to go GPL.

Hope this doesn't sound too harsh.

Ferdinando Ametrano

PS Brian: have you considered to give the GSL copyright to the FSF?
from http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html:
"Note that the GPL, and other copyleft licenses, are copyright licenses. 
This means that only the copyright holders are empowered to act against 
violations. The FSF acts on all GPL violations reported on FSF copyrighted 
code, and we offer assistance to any other copyright holder who wishes to 
do the same.
But, we cannot act on our own if we do not hold copyright. Thus, be sure to 
find out who the copyright holders of the software are before reporting a 
violation."