cygwin compiled on Linux for Wiindows

[Jani tiainen]

3APA3A wrote:
> Dear Jani tiainen,
> 
> --Sunday, September 19, 2004, 9:33:42 AM, you wrote to cygwin@cygwin.com:
> 
> 
> Jt> If you compile it under Cygwin _and_ link your app against _any_ GPL
> Jt> library (including cygwin1.dll in Windoze) your application license must
> Jt> be GPL. You still hold copyright for your original work (and your later
> Jt> modifications) and thus can do anything with that piece of code eg. 
> Jt> there is some examples (like MySQL) that uses dual licensing, one which
> Jt> is GPL and one commercial.
> 
> Most  libraries  (Cygwin  is exception) come with LGPL, not GPL license.
> LGPL  allows  you  to  create commercial application linked against this
> library  as  long  as  you  provide a way to replace LGPLed library (for
> example application links to library dynamically).

Well actually when you compile library with cygwin1.dll, it will be 
changed to GPL. There is even clause in LGPL that makes it possible. 
Amazing, isn't it..?

> In  some  cases  it's  still  possible  to  use  some GPLed libraries in
> commerce  application,  if application is not "derived work" in terms of
> GPL  (for  example  you  can use GPLed plugins as long as you distribute
> plugin  apart  from  you  application  and you distribute plugin in open
> source under GPL).

Well, actually you can distribute plugin too, but you need to distribute 
sources etc. Usually it's much simpler to point out place where to get 
that particular plugin. Or like it's with cygwin, easier to point out to 
download & install cygwin than distribute whole mess by yourself.

> Additionally,  there  is  a  lot  of  difference "freeware" licenses and
> "public domain" code, not covered by any license.

They still are, their license are pretty "free". You can use software as 
you may. Still it's a license even very short one.

> As  for  Cygwin:  yes,  according to GPL all derived work must be GPLed.
> 
> Copyright  question  is  not  so simple as you may think, but it primary
> depends on the contracts between you and your employer.

Common practice is that company you work for owns copyright for code 
made at work hours. Everything else is your own. Of course this is 
contract guestion, but I have never heard that copyright stays with 
coder while working for employer - Who would risk situation that when 
coder leaves he/she takes code with him/her? But I've heard that 
sometimes employer has (at least offered) contract that _all_ code 
written by individual in question is property of employer. But I don't 
know for other countries, but at least here in Finland such a agreement 
is void and it is called 'act of fairness'.

More or less problematic is code made in institutions, universities and 
school, but I'll leave that one out.

And most of these legal matters are still officially untested in court 
of law. Many times these are pretty delicate matters and are settled 
outside court.

-- 

Jani Tiainen

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