Re: GPL question

[Alfred M. Szmidt]

   What I glean is, yes i can, from the user's perspective, "include"
   a GPL'd software within my own proprietary software, and NOT be
   forced to release my source code?  (see previous for what i mean by
   "include")

As John said, you cannot be forced; either you accept the GPL or you
don't, it is entierly up to you.  From the sound of it, you are not
really `including' GPL software with proprietary software, but
distributing it beside it.  This is called aggregation, and is
allowed.

Section 2:

| In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the
| Program with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a
| volume of a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other
| work under the scope of this License.

And section 5:

| 5. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not
|    signed it.  However, nothing else grants you permission to modify
|    or distribute the Program or its derivative works.  These actions
|    are prohibited by law if you do not accept this License.
|    Therefore, by modifying or distributing the Program (or any work
|    based on the Program), you indicate your acceptance of this
|    License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for copying,
|    distributing or modifying the Program or works based on it.