Re: Licensing question

Hi,

Mustafa Abbasi wrote:
> On 3/9/06, Chris <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
>>Hello
>>
>>I have asked this question at gnu.org but received no response
>>
>>I wish to create a media player type of application.
>>
>>according to the GPL if my app loads xvid or similar then it must be open
>>source.

No. GPL does not restrict the _usage_ of the codec in any kind. If a 
user has XviD installed on his/her machine, your program is free to
use it.

What you are not allowed to do is _distribute_ XviD together with a
proprietary software, i.e. make a bundle for download, have your 
player's installer directly install XviD as well, include XviD code into
your code and distribute the result and so on. That kind of stuff you 
are only allowed to do if your software is licensed under GPL (which
not only means opening the source, but also allowing free usage etc.).

> i don't think so. only the section that under the gpl must be open source
> and you MUST release the source code for that. other wise you can non-open
> source the sections you wrote

NO! This is wrong and a dangerous statement to make, because people 
might actually believe it. You are talking about the LGPL (Lesser GPL) 
license.

gruel