Re: Compiling programs licensed under the GPL version 2 with GCC 4.4

[Joe Buck <Joe dot Buck at synopsys dot COM>]

> * Joe Buck:
> 
On Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 01:53:40PM -0700, Florian Weimer wrote:
> >> Kalle Olavi Niemitalo discovered that as an operating system vendor,
> >> you are not allowed to distribute GPL version 2 programs if they are
> >> compiled with GCC 4.4.  The run-time library is GPL version 3 or
> >> later, which is incompatible with GPL version 2, so it is not
> >> permitted to link this with the GPLv2-only program and distribute the
> >> result.

I wrote:
> > That's incorrect.  The runtime library is GPLv3 or later, but with an
> > *exception* that permits linking not only with GPLv2 programs, but
> > also with proprietary programs.

On Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 11:46:51PM -0700, Florian Weimer wrote:
> Eh, this exception doesn't change that the GPLv2 program perceives the
> GPLv3 as incompatible.  Why would it?

Doesn't matter, because the runtime library is not under GPLv3.  It's
under GPLv3 plus the runtime restriction.  That combination is more
permissive than GPLv2 (because of the exceptions it makes).  Therefore,
as far as I can tell, there is no conflict; the combined program has
no restrictions beyond the GPLv2 restrictions.

In particular, the DRM rules don't apply; the more restrictive rules
on patents don't apply.  Unless you can identify a specific restriction
that isn't waived by the runtime exception license, then I don't see
the problem.