RE: Clear up my License information

Patrik Stridvall <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Well, we are both right to a certain extent :)
> >
> > The problem is that if your patch contains a modified line
> > that is only in the LGPL WineHQ tree, the 'viral' nature of the LGPL means
> > that one LGPL line causes the LGPL to apply to the whole patch, and thus
> > cannot be duel-licensed (without permission of the author of the oiginal
> > LGPL'ed line). How many times can I use the word LGPL in one sentance? Wow.
> > :)
> 
> Note quite. First of all the LGPL is not quite that viral as the GPL.
> 
> The LGPL (unlike the GPL) even with its most restrictive interpretation
> only applies to code that is either directly derived from LGPL code or
> code that the LGPL work depends on for it functionallity.

This is patently false.  If this were true, one could statically link against
a LGPL library and not be affected.  Besides, it is the meaning of 'derived'
which causes most of the consternation anyway.

> So no, save the work nessessary for Rewind to make any patch from X11
> licenser apply I don't see any problem from LGPL "contamintion" of the patches.

This arguable.  Take the following  case:

Original X11 code:

foo()
{
  code();
  code1();
}


LGPL mod:

foo()
{
  code();
  if( cond )
     code1();
}


X11 contribution:

foo()
{
  code();
  if( cond ) {
    x11_added_code();
    code1();
  }
}


The funny thing is that it can be argued that if you don't use K&R styling,
you'd probably be safe, as the patches would not have any reference to
the LGPLed "if".  In this case, the "if" could be considered to contaminate
the patch, in the sense that you cannot say the patch was X11.  All that
you can (and should) say is that your contributions are licensed X11.
  
> In any case, as I said earlier this is Rewind problem, not the X11 licenser.

Depends on your perspective.  If your attitude is "Rewind can make use of this
if it can", then yes, your statement is true.  If you want to make a direct
contribution to the X11 tree, then the patches should probably be off the
X11 base.

-r