Re: scope of linux in the corporates...


joseph2k wrote:

I do believe that was inappropriately over-generalized. e.g. if the input
is a GPL program sources and the GPL program is the software development
tool chain then the result would be GPL also.
Perhaps "not necessarily subject" would be more accurate.

Whether or not the tool chain is GPL only matters if the output
contains significant protectable expression copied from the tool chain.
This might arguably be the case if the tool chain inject substantial
inline code, for example. But it typically is not expected to be the
case. The output of a compiler is not expected to be a derivative work
of that compiler.

Some would even argue that the protectable expression must be
creatively mixed and that no automated process (other than the narrow
exceptions created by statute) can create a new work for copyright
purposes. (That would make the output a mere aggregation for copyright
law purposes and thus "sort of" GPL'd.)

DS

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