[Sussex] Licence question

[Geoffrey Teale]

Gavin,

Your spreadsheet is is no way different to any other interpreted
language (i.e., python or perl).  You can happily release an application
written in a spreadsheet as GPL if you so wish.  

However, if your spreadsheet happens to be written in a recent version
of Excel and you don't have a special agreement with Microsoft then I'm
afraid that:

1. The license you agreed to with that software package means that your
spreadsheet isn't yours at all, as you have waived certain intellectual
property rights to Microsoft already.

2. Your are explicitly prohibited in said license from using Microsoft
software to produce GPL'd products.

... fortunately those license terms will very likely be declared illegal
within the EU this year. 

-- 
Geoffrey Teale <tealeg at member.fsf.org>
Free Software Foundation