--- Original Message ---
>From: "Francisco J. A. Ares"
>Date: 1/27/04 9:53:18 AM
>
>- if you use GPL source code *STATICALLY LINKED* to your
>own code, you must release your source code as GPL.
>
>- if you use GPL source code *DINAMICALLY LINKED* to your
>code, yours is not GPL, unless you want it to.
>
>So, you can *INDIRECTLY* profit from GPL source code, just
>don't statically link it with your own.
>
>And you can *DIRECTLY* profit from GPL code: give your
>program with the source code (that someone else on the
>world may be adding features and removing bugs) to your
>clients and sell services (expertise) to them.

An excellent example of this is Tivo.  They use Linux,
and have released their kernel changes back to the world.

They have *NOT* had to release their propritary code, as
it is dynamically linked to the GPL code.

So, they save mountains of time and money on developement
and still have a closed-source product.

Bill

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