Re: KDE not in Debian?
*Marcus Brinkmann wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 20, 2000 at 11:09:01PM -0600, Bud Rogers wrote:
> >
> > I've been struggling with that apparent inconsistency since the whole
> > Qt/KDE controversy began. If it's OK to distribute GPLed software linked
> > against Motif, why is it not OK if it's linked against Qt?
>
> Because Motif is a standard system components of SOME systems and NOT
> accompanies KDE.
>
> Qt is not a standard system component opf ANY operating system and DOES
> accompany KDE (or at least would do so if Debian ships both).
>
> > If it's not OK
> > to distribute GPLed software linked against Qt, why is it OK to do so if
> > it's linked against Motif?
>
>
> Same reason.
>
> > I have never understood the distinction.
>
> Just think about commercial Operating Systems like Solaris. The exception
> clause only applies to those. Don't try to transfer the clause to the free
> software world.
>
But people are saying that otherwise-free software is linked with Motif
in free systems (such as Debian) and that the defense given is the exception
clause.
In any case I understand that the exception clause was neccesary becase
it was otherwise impossible to run free software several years ago. And
Motif was essential. But currently, it may be that linking with Motif on
a free system (and maybe on Solaris, too) violates the spirit, if not the
letter of the GPL. The thing to keep in mind in interpreting the GPL
is RMS's guidline-- will this help or hinder the spread of free software?
--
John Lapeyre <lapeyre@physics.arizona.edu>, lapeyre@debian.org
Tucson,AZ http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~lapeyre
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