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0 pointstoyg2y ago0 comments

> I don't need permission to have libmysql.so

Er, dude, you do. A Free license doesn't mean there is no license. If you obtain libmysql.so and use it in any way, you have to respect the license or you're in breach of copyright law.

The fact that free (re)distribution is allowed by the license does not mean that the use of it in any way is not restricted.

> this interpretation followed to its logical conclusion makes huge swaths of the free software ecosystem illegal

That might well be. Free licenses are abused every day, as people don't really know what this or that license requires. They even routinely strip copyright statements on MIT/BSD code, which is literally the only thing one is not supposed to do. But just because people get away with speeding over the limit on most days, it doesn't mean that the speed limit is not legally enforceable.

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2 comments · 2 top-level

kelnos2y ago

> If you obtain libmysql.so and use it in any way, you have to respect the license or you're in breach of copyright law.

The GPL is a distribution license, not a use license. Once they've received that source and/or binary, they can do whatever they want with it as long as they aren't distributing it. (Copying it to another machine under their control may or may not be distribution, depending on the circumstances.)

Yes, once they want to distribute their copy to others, they need to comply with the terms of the GPL. But not before then.

quotemstr2y ago

> If you obtain libmysql.so and use it in any way, you have to respect the license or you're in breach of copyright law.

We're talking about following the GPL to the letter with respect to libmysql.so. The GPL says nothing about what I can do with a program on my system not covered by the GPL.

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