<br>I'm going to ask one of the things Liam asked, but very specifically... <br><br>Are modules that create XML designed to be used by another piece of software considered a "bridge"? Or is the XML considered the final output of the GPL code and the point at which the GPL's influence stops?
<br><br>I'm thinking of Flash photo gallery, but this could be applied to an RSS reader as well. It fits the definatition of "seperate pieces of software with a purpose to make a single unit of software out of those parts".
<br><br>Is a module a bridge if it uses a standard like RSS, NewsML, or other XML standardized for the purpose of moving or sharing data between systems or applications... GPL'ed or not?<br><br>- Kevin Reynen<br><br><br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 8/30/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Liam McDermott</b> <<a href="mailto:liam@intermedia-online.com">liam@intermedia-online.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Karoly Negyesi wrote:<br><br>> Before going any further, I want to make clear that I'm not<br>> expressing approval or disapproval of this: I'm just relaying the<br>> conclusions that were reached after several days of discussion and
<br>> questioning with the FSF.<br>Quite, now annoyingly I'm going to ask you some questions and probably<br>repeat what you've already asked the FSF. My apologies in advance for<br>this. :)<br><br>> Why do these modules violate the GPL?
<br>><br>> 1) Under the FSF's accepted interpretation of the GPL, if a module is<br>> integrating Drupal and another PHP script, by calling one's APIs when<br>> triggered by the other for example, its purpose is to make a single
<br>> unit of software out of those parts.<br>Then how is any GPL'd software allowed to run on Microsoft Windows? How<br>are Opera, Adobe Flash or Java allowed to run on GNU/Linux?<br><br>> 2) If multiple programs are operating together and functioning as one
<br>> unit, all the pieces must be GPL'd.<br>I find this hard to believe. Take the vBulletin bridge for example, you<br>want to build a site that uses Drupal for the CMS and vBulletin for the<br>message board. Drupal distribute the CMS and the vBulletin bridge, both
<br>available under the GPL, this integrates with vBulletin on the Web server.<br><br>Since the GPL is a copyright license it only comes into effect when<br>software is distributed. The end user is allowed to mix whatever license
<br>combinations they want. That is why I am running GNU/Linux with Opera as<br>my browser, Java and Flash installed, and some proprietary Windows<br>software running under Wine.<br><br>If you mean that it's technically a breach of the GPL to _provide a
<br>service_ integrating software with incompatible licenses then I can see<br>that you may have a point. Although if accused of breaching the GPL in<br>this manner a good answer could be: 'the customer downloaded and
<br>installed that piece of proprietary software, guvn'r.'<br><br>I don't believe the Drupal maintainers have done anything wrong, they've<br>only distributed GPL'd software. I can't imagine it would do the FSF's
<br>public image any good to go after individual developers for something so<br>trivial either. Most people would jump to BSD licenses faster than you<br>can say: 'Richard Stallman!'<br><br>This seems to be the same problem as graphics card vendors and their
<br>binary drivers. They provide a binary (cross-platform) blob with some<br>GPL'd 'glue' software between the blob and the Linux kernel. This has<br>been argued--on both sides--but never really tested. As you pointed out,
<br>not taking any action will probably cause no problems.<br><br>By the way: I am not a lawyer. I have no experience with law, only a<br>vague understanding of the GPL. Am asking these questions as you<br>probably have the answers already and if not you can query the FSF again
<br>(or provide us with an e-mail address).<br><br>Thanks for the information! :)<br><br>Kind Regards,<br>Liam McDermott.<br>_______________________________________________<br>consulting mailing list<br><a href="mailto:consulting@drupal.org">
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