Hello I have a project I want to demo by distributing a static executable. My project depends on many GPL'ed libraries. Is the executable I produce considered a derivative work? If so, I believe this is not allowed under the GPL. Is this correct? For the LGPL as well? Thank you for your insight. [Edited by - Simulacrum on November 9, 2009 9:22:45 PM]

Definitely true of the GPL, static linking to a GPL library is definitely considered creating a derivative work.

For the LGPL, I believe it's a bit of a grey area. Richard Stallman would want you to think that it still counts as a derivative work (that only dynamic linking of an LGPL library is not a derivative work - actually, I think RS would prefer it if the LGPL just went away altogether, but let's not go there!). But I don't think that's the universal opinion. In general, it's probably best to contact the original authors of the library in question and ask them.

Of course, IANAL, so what I've said above could be totally wrong... if so, I'm sure there's plenty of smart people here who can correct me :)

Drat! Drat! Drat!

I guess I'll have to distribute sources instead of exes/libs then.

Instead of? The GPL doesn't prohibit you from distributing binaries. It just requires you to make the source available to anyone you give binaries to.

Quote: Original post by Sneftel
Instead of? The GPL doesn't prohibit you from distributing binaries. It just requires you to make the source available to anyone you give binaries to.

Ahhhh. That's not a problem at all. My project is open source to begin with. Licenses just make me nervous in general.

Requirements for complying with GPL, according to the lawyer for the FreeSoftware foundation:

1) Redistribution must itself occur under GPL and only GPL, with no additional license conditions.

2) Redistribution must include "source code," the human-readable form of computer programs that allows programmers to understand and modify computer programs for themselves, as opposed to "object code," which is the "machine language" version of computer programs that is very difficult for programmers to understand or modify.

3) Redistribution must include a copy of the GPL, so that users are aware of their rights to use, copy, modify and distribute, and so that anyone engaged in redistribution is also aware of the conditions under which redistribution is permitted.

In the case of derivative works, what goes for the original goes for the derivative.