On Thu, 2006-06-15 at 13:20 -0400, Sean wrote:
> How could by application be derived by this definition? The
library routine is
> only there to do a function or to supply data that my program needs.
>
> My program is not formed from this GPL library in question.
>
Well it's really up to the lawyers to decide, so i can only speculate. It
seems that in the case quoted by Les, the package was found to be a derivative
work, legally.
It wasn't a case and there wasn't a finding. It was a threat, based
on the FSF lawyer's interpretation that the person trying to distribute
a free program couldn't afford to challenge or ignore. A workaround
was managed with a great deal of extra trouble. Had it been a
patent issue, a workaround would not have been possible, though.
--
Les Mikesell
lesmiksell(a)gmail.com