Re: GPL and nib files

[PUYDT Julien]

On jeu, 2003-12-18 at 03:08, Jesse Hammons wrote:
> On a related note, are nib files considered code or data?  I am making
> an application that runs on GNUStep and Cocoa.  The code for this
> application is GPL (because I am using someone else GPL code for part
> of the functionality).  I would like to restrict distribution of the
> nib files (which were created by myself only).  I am wondering if this
> would  violate the requirement for distributing "complete source code."
> 
> What about images, sounds, icons and similar types of materials?  If I
> combine GPL code with proprietary data, and ship resulting binary, is
> that a violation of the GPL?  If I provide access to the source code
> for a version of the application that is completely equal in
> functionality (same code) but uses generic images does that qualify as
> being the "preferred form of the work for making modifications to it?"

Would your program still compile without the nib? If not, then it
probably is part of it.
Is the nib something independant from your program? If not, then it's
probably part of it.

On a similar note, I seem to remember that D.Colnet was a little
hesitant to release the now-called smarteiffel compiler under the gpl,
and releases the sources as C sources. RMS then asked him if those where
really the sources he worked with, the answer was no: he was using the
eiffel sources, and the se compiler turned them into C, that gcc turned
into an executable. We now have those eiffel sources, which are the real
sources.

Snark on #gnustep