Re: [fluid-dev] FluidSynth Integration in iOS

[Matt Giuca]

Hi Leo,

Sorry that I can't help with the technical issues. Just a quick heads
up that the legal status of FluidSynth on iPhone is pretty unclear,
depending on what you plan to do with it. This issue has been raised a
couple of times. See these threads:

http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/fluid-dev/2010-09/msg00027.html
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/fluid-dev/2011-06/msg00003.html
(in particular, my reply:
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/fluid-dev/2010-09/msg00028.html)

If you plan to release software in an unofficial channel outside of
Apple's App Store (such as Cydia), then this isn't a problem. But for
releasing apps in Apple's App Store, there are issues due to the
locked-down nature of that distribution platform. Firstly, you must
release your whole program under the LGPL or GPL (since iOS doesn't
allow dynamic linking, you must treat the LGPL as if it were the GPL).
(This part is quite clear.) Secondly, that may not even be sufficient,
as Apple forces you to place additional legal restrictions on the
software which are forbidden by the (L)GPL. (This part is very fuzzy,
and nobody seems to have a clear answer, but various FluidSynth team
members have indicated that it might be a problem.)

Matt Giuca