Re: using GPL api to be used in a properietary software

[Isaac]

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 17:39:11 +0100, Martin Dickopp 
<expires-2005-04-30@zero-based.org> wrote:
> "Wahaj" <wahaj.khan@ascertia.com> writes:
> 
>> I had posted a question on the use of GPL with properietary software. I think
>> linking of any kind i.e. static or dynamic of a GPLed API makes the caller to
>> also become GPLed. This is clear now. But my original comment was:
>>  
>> 1) We can create an exe of the GPLed API and call it from a properietary
>> application. The exe gets the parameters performs its tasks and the calling
>> application can get the output
>>  
>> The above seems OK as the exe (called it GPL-exe) based on the GPLed API is a
>> seperate application and this exe is being called by a properietary
>> application. GPL-exe will be based on GPL license and the properietary have 
>> its
>> own. Is it fine ? Also I believe packaging this GPL-exe with the properietary
>> exe have no issue.
> 
> You can read about the position of the FSF here:
> 
>   http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#MereAggregation
> 
> In particular, if the separate GPL'ed executable has no purpose on its
> own, but is created solely to circumvent the license of the library,
> then it is *not* okay.
> 

The quoted link seems to suggest that using pipes as IPC and execing a
GPLed binary is a satisfactory work around.  I don't think that makes
a lot of sense from a copyright law standpoint.

Isaac