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Re: Runtime Exception License and Other Projects - Clarification
- From: Ian Lance Taylor <iant at google dot com>
- To: AJ Guillon <aj dot guillon at utoronto dot ca>
- Cc: libstdc++ at gcc dot gnu dot org
- Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:03:54 -0700
- Subject: Re: Runtime Exception License and Other Projects - Clarification
- References: <20090412182309.oh8iqhnqas44skso@webmail.utoronto.ca>
AJ Guillon <aj.guillon@utoronto.ca> writes:
> As you may or may not know, Threading Building Blocks is another
> project released under the same license as libstdc++. It also has the
> runtime exception.
>
> See this link:
> http://www.threadingbuildingblocks.org/wiki/index.php?title=General_Questions_about_TBB#What_is_GPL_v2_with_the_runtime_exception.3F
>
> I have a project which has extended TBB in certain useful ways. To
> comply with the license of TBB, I have adopted the same license for my
> work. Because this is not as popular a license as the GPL or LGPL,
> I'd like to clarify my understanding of this license.
>
> My intention is to allow others to use my work without having to
> license their work under the GPL. That is, my code may be used in
> closed-source applications (via linking or template instantiation).
> My understanding is that if others alter my code it falls under the
> GPL. However others may link to my code, and instantiate templates
> provided without their work falling under the GPL.
>
> I actually tend to think of the libstdc++ license as the LGPL for C++
> with templates.
>
> I'd like to ask if I am right or wrong on this interpretation of the
> license. I will see about meeting with a lawyer at my university,
> however it would help to know the intention behind the license.
That is not quite my understanding of the libstdc++ license. My
understanding is that the exception remains even if the libstdc++ code
is modified. Modifying the code does not cancel the exception, and thus
the code is not under the full GPL.
Note that in mainline development the libstdc++ license recently changed
to use the GCC Runtime Library Exception version 3.1. However, I
believe that my comments are still accurate.
Ian