Re: PHP License Questions

On Oct 3, 2004, at 11:12 PM, Aaron Wormus wrote:

This is probably the wrong forum to ask this question, as the PHP License doesn't care if you include a library with GPL software (obviously as long as the library retains it's own license). The problem is with the GPL not allowing this, the Free Software Foundation are usually very helpful in answering these questions.

I disagree, their view is obviously one way only. So their answer is no...

IANAL, but the simple answer you'll get is that if you want to include uncompatibly licensed code with your GPL software, simply write an exception to the GPL and include it with your code. A template (and explanation) is provided by the nice FSF people [1]. Not to start a licensing flame war, but the reason why Apache and PHP are distributed with Linux falls outside the realm of the GPL because the programs aren't statically linked.

Well, nor is a pear package bundled into the new application. You can decide not to use it or to leave the user to install the pear dependencies. Then Apache or KDE shouldn't use the Kernel as the kernel is used all over the system.. same would be for MySQL. Linkage is hard to determine... In any case is all theory, I don't think that their arguments in this case will have any relevancy in a real court. Of course we can say that is not the same aka not linked... Cheers David Costa

Aaron [1] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLIncompatibleLibs Andrew Lindeman wrote:

Hi all! Many PEAR libraries are licensed under the PHP license. I'm using a few of these (right now, DB and Calendar) in a project that will eventually be released under the GPL. A member of the GNU Savannah development team (i.e. a reputable source) recently mentioned that the GPL was incompatible with the PHP license (verified by http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GPLIncompatibleLicenses ) and that using code under the PHP license in a GPL'ed piece of software could not mesh. This is one of his quotes as to the conflict (referring to the PHP license): "ah, I would guess the advertising clause, that and how it's not definitive enough with your rights." I know that the PHP license is basically a BSD license with a few clauses about the 'PHP' name, so this confuses me. I'm also extremely confused because I *know* many GPL'ed pieces of software use PEAR libraries under the PHP license. Is this just a matter of no enforcement or is he mistaken? If he's mistaken, can someone elaborate so I can refute his argument? I don't mean any offense to the developer I refer to or anyone else; I'm just concerned about what this means to my project. Thanks much all --Andrew Lindeman

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