Re: Using non-GPL libraries in a GPL program

[rjack]

Dave Crossland wrote:

> You have totally misunderstood what "sublicensing" is: It is a legal
> term that means "pass on copies of the work to 3rd parties with this
> license" and does NOT mean "pass on copies with another license of
> your choice"

There is exactly 1 (one) valid, legally enforceable meaning to the term 
"sublicense" that applies to a NONEXCLUSIVE copyright license under U.S.
copyright law:

With the permission of a copyright OWNER, a nonexclusive licensee may 
TRANSFER his CONTRACUAL INTEREST in a nonexclusive copyright license to 
a third party. In the act of transferring his CONTRACTUAL INTEREST, the 
original nonexclusive licensee RELINQUISHES his contractual rights in 
that nonexclusive license.

Any other theory of "downstream" sublicensing with respect to a 
nonexclusive copyright license is a fantasy of Richard Stallman's design.

Sincerely,
Rjack :)

“The GPL is a License, Not a Contract, Which is Why the Sky Isn't 
Falling”, Sunday, December 14 2003 @ 09:06 PM EST PJ@Groklaw