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| <meta name="AUTHOR" content="pme@gcc.gnu.org (Phil Edwards)" /> |
| <meta name="KEYWORDS" content="libstdc++, license, licence" /> |
| <meta name="DESCRIPTION" content="Copying restrictions for libstdc++." /> |
| <meta name="GENERATOR" content="vi and eight fingers" /> |
| <title>libstdc++-v3 copying</title> |
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| |
| <h1 class="centered"><a name="top">Licenses for the Library</a></h1> |
| |
| <p>There are two licenses affecting GNU libstdc++-v3: one for the code, and |
| one for the documentation. Here we will describe both of them, and try |
| to answer some of the widespread questions. If you have more questions, |
| ask the FSF or the |
| <a href="http://gcc.gnu.org/lists.html">gcc mailing list</a>; the person |
| writing this page is a programmer, not a lawyer. |
| </p> |
| |
| <hr /> |
| |
| <h2>The Code: Runtime GPL</h2> |
| |
| <p>The source code of libstdc++-v3 is distributed under version 2 of the |
| <a href="COPYING">GNU General Public License</a>, with the so-called |
| "runtime exception," as follows (or see any header or |
| implementation file): |
| </p> |
| <pre> |
| As a special exception, you may use this file as part of a free software |
| library without restriction. Specifically, if other files instantiate |
| templates or use macros or inline functions from this file, or you compile |
| this file and link it with other files to produce an executable, this |
| file does not by itself cause the resulting executable to be covered by |
| the GNU General Public License. This exception does not however |
| invalidate any other reasons why the executable file might be covered by |
| the GNU General Public License. |
| </pre> |
| |
| <p>Hopefully that text is self-explanatory. If it isn't, you need to speak |
| to your lawyer, or the Free Software Foundation. |
| </p> |
| |
| <!-- Most of the Q&A's are based on, paraphrased from, and outright stolen |
| from this thread: |
| http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/libstdc++/2000-q2/subjects.html#00050 |
| --> |
| <p><strong>Q: So any program which uses libstdc++ falls under the GPL?</strong> |
| <br />A: <strong>No.</strong> The special exception permits use of the |
| library in proprietary applications. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p><strong>Q: How is that different from the GNU {Lesser,Library} |
| GPL?</strong> |
| <!-- Quoting Jason Merrill from the thread above: --> |
| <br />A: The LGPL requires that users be able to replace the LGPL code with a |
| modified version; this is trivial if the library in question is a C |
| shared library. But there's no way to make that work with C++, where |
| much of the library consists of inline functions and templates, which |
| are expanded inside the code that uses the library. So to allow people |
| to replace the library code, someone using the library would have to |
| distribute their own source, rendering the LGPL equivalent to the GPL. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p><strong>Q: I see. So, what restrictions <em>are</em> there on |
| programs that use the library?</strong> |
| <br />A: None. We encourage such programs to be released as open source, |
| but we won't punish you or sue you if you choose otherwise. |
| </p> |
| |
| <hr /> |
| |
| <h2>The Docs: FDL</h2> |
| |
| <p>The documentation shipped with the library and made available over the |
| web, including the pages generated from source comments, are copyrighted |
| by the Free Software Foundation, and placed under |
| the <a href="COPYING.DOC">GNU Free Documentation License version 1.1</a>. |
| There are no Front-Cover Texts, no Back-Cover Texts, and |
| <!-- as far as I know --> |
| no Invariant Sections. |
| </p> |
| |
| <p>If you plan on making copies of the documentation, please let us know. |
| We can probably offer suggestions. |
| </p> |
| |
| |
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| |
| <hr /> |
| <p class="fineprint"><em> |
| Comments and suggestions about this page are welcome, and may be sent to |
| <a href="mailto:libstdc++@gcc.gnu.org">the libstdc++ mailing list</a>. |
| Comments or questions about the licenses themselves are also welcome, and |
| should be directed to the GCC list as descibed above. |
| </em></p> |
| |
| |
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