I think many are confused by GPL and propriety software, first you just need to make sure you only link against LGPL libs. GNU C and C++ libs are LGPL so your covered there. Ah but what about the kernel!! it is GPL, if you open the COPYING file in the root of the kernel source you will see Linus has added the following clause to allow accessing the kernel with system calls even if its from propriety software, see below qoute:
"NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work". Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it. Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated.
Linus Torvalds"
I think your confused by GPL, first you just need to make sure you only link against LGPL libs. GNU C and C++ libs are LGPL so your covered there. Ah but what about the kernel!! it is GPL so you can't link against it or use any of its calls!! WRONG! If you open the COPYING file in the root of the kernel source you will see Linus has added the following clause to allow linking against the kernel:
" NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel
services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use
of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work".
Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software
Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux
kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it.
Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel
is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not
v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated.
Slashdot Mirror
I think many are confused by GPL and propriety software, first you just need to make sure you only link against LGPL libs. GNU C and C++ libs are LGPL so your covered there. Ah but what about the kernel!! it is GPL, if you open the COPYING file in the root of the kernel source you will see Linus has added the following clause to allow accessing the kernel with system calls even if its from propriety software, see below qoute: "NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work". Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it. Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated. Linus Torvalds"
I think your confused by GPL, first you just need to make sure you only link against LGPL libs. GNU C and C++ libs are LGPL so your covered there. Ah but what about the kernel!! it is GPL so you can't link against it or use any of its calls!! WRONG! If you open the COPYING file in the root of the kernel source you will see Linus has added the following clause to allow linking against the kernel:
"
NOTE! This copyright does *not* cover user programs that use kernel
services by normal system calls - this is merely considered normal use
of the kernel, and does *not* fall under the heading of "derived work".
Also note that the GPL below is copyrighted by the Free Software
Foundation, but the instance of code that it refers to (the Linux
kernel) is copyrighted by me and others who actually wrote it.
Also note that the only valid version of the GPL as far as the kernel
is concerned is _this_ particular version of the license (ie v2, not
v2.2 or v3.x or whatever), unless explicitly otherwise stated.
Linus Torvalds