Re: Do I have to release the patch for a GPL software under GPL?

[Alexander Terekhov]

Gordon Burditt wrote:
[...]
> A patch is something that lets you take the original file (normally
> not distributed as part of the patch) and create from it a modified
> original.  If it doesn't make changes to the original, there's no point
> in having a patch.

Think of a patch containing both modifications and some new independent
computer program works to be added to the same modified file. Something
along the lines of 

ORIGINAL:

        cp = malloc(strlen(foo+1));

MODIFIED:

        cp = my_malloc(my_strlen(foo)+1);

The code for my_malloc() and my_strlen() computer programs is merely 
aggregated with modifications to the original. And the scope of the 
derivative work (modified original) doesn't encompass independent 
code merely aggregated with that derivative work.

regards,
alexander.