Re: Guile license

[Per Abrahamsen]

Kalle Olavi Niemitalo <kon@iki.fi> writes:

> Joe Knapka <jknapka@kneuro.net> writes:
>
>> Guile is actually licensed under the LGPL.
>
> No, it is GPL plus permission to link with propietary programs.  See:
> <http://www.gnu.org/software/guile/docs/guile-ref/Guile-License.html>
>
> I think this even allows you to link with a modified version of
> GUILE and then distribute binaries while hoarding the source code
> of the modifications.  But if you do distribute the source, the
> recipients get at least the GPL rights to your modifications.

It is[1] the same license as is use by the GCC runtime libraries,
which are linked into almost all GCC compiled binaries.  The idea is
that since GCC and Guile are competing head to head with software the
FSF didn't approve of[2], they have to give users (who are themselves
developers) at least similar rights as they get with the proprietary
products.

Footnotes: 
[1]  Or was, according to another poster, the license has changed.
[2]  Either because it is proprietary (other C/C++ compilers) or just
     sucks on a technical level (TCL).