[LONG] (sub)licensing issue

[Bernhard Reiter]

On Thu, Apr 11, 2002 at 03:14:07PM +0200, Jerome Alet wrote:
> I've written a GPLed (not LGPLed) library which I know is currently used
> in a software licensed under the BSD license, so this is clearly a
> GPL violation since the other software license should be GPLed too.

Note that the authors of the other software code parts will
still be the authors and hold the rights.
So they can release their code parts under the conditions they want.

You are correct in that the combined larger program
will have to be under the GNU GPL.
	http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#WhatDoesCompatMean

Thus the question is: Are the other code parts compatible with the GNU GPL?
Modified BSD licenses usually are.

Then I do not see a problem.

> 	1 - don't use my library at all.
> 
> 	2 - ask me for a sublicense in exchange of money 
>             (I'm the only author), which I'd be glad to accept ;-)
>  
> This is if I understand the GPL correctly.

If you are the one holding the rights 
you can give out several licenses of "your" software:
	http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#ReleaseUnderGPLAndNF
	
| To release a non-free program is always ethically tainted, but
| legally there is no obstacle to your doing this. If you are the
| copyright holder for the code, you can release it under various
| different non-exclusive licenses at various times.

> So is there a license somewhere to solve this problem, or what would
> you do in the same situation ?

Find out if there really is a problem.
Study the GNU GPL FAQs.

> I've asked to the FSF but I've got no answer yet.

Probably because they are quite busy and wrote that nice FAQ. 
(Which it very long I admitt.)


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