[development] Modules that integrate non-GPL PHP apps violate the GPL.

[Thomas Barregren]

Caleb Gilbert skrev:
> Does anyone else realize that (past a point) none of these discussions 
> matter much compared to actual court rulings?
>
> Of course the people that came up with the GPL are going to say that 
> they hold the final say in what it means or doesn't. And of course 
> others will say differently at times. If anyone really wants to find 
> out what the GPL covers, and what it doesn't, the only way to truly do 
> it is to lawyer up and hope that your gal/guy is more persuasive than 
> the other side.  ;)
>
> - Caleb, "lawyers rule the world", Gilbert

Caleb,

You are uninformed.

GPL has stand the test of courts in both US (e.g. Drew Technologies, 
Inc. v. Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.) and EU (e.g. Welte v. 
Sitecom). The reason that GPL has not been challenged more often during 
its 18 years of existence is the fact that no one is willing to risk 
contesting it. That is, most companies realize that they will loose a 
lawsuit.  And if it is challenged, it usually ends in a settlement (e.g. 
NuSphere Corporation (Progress Software) v. MySQL AB).

Here are some links you can read:

    * http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/enforcing-gpl.html
    * http://www.opensourcelegal.org/laws.php
    * http://gpl-violations.org/
    * http://www.groklaw.net/


Best regards,
Thomas