libstdc++/4418: License is unclear

[ben dot hutchings at roundpoint dot com]

>Number:         4418
>Category:       libstdc++
>Synopsis:       License is unclear
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       serious
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    unassigned
>State:          open
>Class:          doc-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Fri Sep 28 07:26:00 PDT 2001
>Closed-Date:
>Last-Modified:
>Originator:     ben.hutchings@roundpoint.com
>Release:        gcc-3.0.1
>Organization:
>Environment:

>Description:
None of the documentation specifies what the license is (so far as I can see). There is a file included in the documentation called COPYING which is a copy of version 2 of the GPL, but none of the other documentation refers to this.

There is clearly some confusion in the free software community as to exactly what the license is. I have seen references to a "Runtime GPL" or "relaxed GPL", neither of which terms I have seen before. The Freshmeat entry simply says the license is "GPL".

The header files refer to the GPL and the COPYING file, but then state an exception to it. Unlike the GPL, this is loosely worded and its meaning is not absolutely clear. I am led to believe that its intention is to allow software to be compiled and dynamically linked with libstdc++ without imposing any restrictions on distribution of the executable software. This is not spelled out, and I believe it should be (or, if my understanding is wrong, then the real intentions should be spelled out). Ideally, I think that both the headers and the documentation should refer to a single file containing the modified version of the GPL that  applies (or multiple files, if there multiple licenses involved).
>How-To-Repeat:
1. Search the distributed documentation for a mention of the license.
2. Google for "libstdc++ license".
>Fix:

>Release-Note:
>Audit-Trail:
>Unformatted: