Re: psql & readline & win32 - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

From Bruce Momjian
Subject Re: psql & readline & win32
Date
Msg-id 200602131845.k1DIjt508859@candle.pha.pa.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: psql & readline & win32  (Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>)
Responses Re: psql & readline & win32
List pgsql-hackers
Tom Lane wrote:
> Bruce Momjian <pgman@candle.pha.pa.us> writes:
> > Tom Lane wrote:
> >>> At that point, psql becomes GPL, no question.
> >> 
> >> Which means it's not happening, no?
> 
> > To clearify, I meant the psql binary becomes GPL.
> 
> There is no such thing as "the binary becomes GPL".  GPL applies to
> the source code.

OK.

> > When we build psql with readline, which is our default on many
> > platforms, we are already be GPL'ing psql, at least according to the
> > copyright holders, FSF.
> 
> No, we are NOT doing that, not even according to FSF.  Our usage of
> a pre-installed readline library falls under this exception in the
> standard GPL terms:
> 
>     However, as a
>     special exception, the source code distributed need not include
>     anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary
>     form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the
>     operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component
>     itself accompanies the executable.
> 
> When we link to a readline library that is normally present on the
> target system, we do not become covered by the GPL, because of this
> exception.  But shipping readline in our package would be a flat
> violation of the GPL unless we are willing to relicense.

Interesting, but that phrase is for what you need to distribute for an
already-GPL source code.  See the "GPL-related disputes" section:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gpl

and an old email from me on the topic:
http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-general/2003-08/msg01811.php

--  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610)
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