[Sussex] [From Debian-uk] Sun through the Looking Glass

[Steve Dobson]

Question for those how have the ear of a lawyer :-)

If Sun release Looking Glass under the GPL aren't Sun required by the 
GPL to GPL the libraries that it depends upon too?

Steve D

----- Forwarded message from Martin Coxall -----

From: Martin Coxall
To: debian-uk at chiark dot greenend dot org dot uk
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:45:55 +0100
Subject: [Debian-uk] Sun through the Looking Glass

Free as in not.

Sun has been making big noises in the last few days about the "Open
Sourcing" (I know, I know) of their 3D X-Server compositor for GNU/Linux
and Solaris, Project Looking Glass, by releasing it under the GNU GPL.

https://lg3d-core.dev.java.net/

The problem is, that the thing requires linking to proprietary
libraries, including Sun's JDK1.5, The Java JAI API, the JAVA 3D API,
none of which could even remotely be described as being available under
GPL compatible licenses.

It seems to me that Sun cannot possibly be making this software
available under the GPL without making the software illegal. It is
possible that they are either (1) confused and a bit stupid, which given
 Scott McNealy's previous actions is a reasonable assessment, or (2)
deliberately trying to spread FUD about the nature of the GPL by
releasing software under a license which becomes illegal when you try to
compile it.

I feel that perhaps Sun needs some re-education with a GNU-shaped Free
Software cluestick, before too many people download this illegal piece
of software under the delusion that it is Free.

That is unless, of course, I am mistaken. I wonder what thoughts you,
dear debianistas, have on the subject.

Martin Coxall







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----- End forwarded message -----