[PLUG-Devel] Close source Java apps on GPL?

[Joseph Sinclair]

Simple counter-question (rhetorical):
  Is it a violation of the GPL to run proprietary software on Linux (i.e. Oracle)?

The answer to the above is unequivocally no.  Placing a limit on how an individual uses their software (including as a platform for proprietary software) would violate Freedom 1, and would be contrary to the spirit of the GPL.

Also, keep in mind that Sun is including the "Classpath Exception" for the standard library, precisely to ensure that proprietary software can still run with the Free version of the standard library as well.

==Joseph++

der.hans wrote:
> Am 14. Nov, 2006 schw�tzte Alan Dayley so:
> 
>> Correct my thinking, if I am wrong.
>>
>> Given:
>> - Sun is releasing Java (ie. the JVM, etc.) source code under the GPL
>> license.
>> - There are many closed source (non-free) Java applications.
>>
>> Posit:
>> Closed source Java applications cannot run on the GPL'd JVM without
>> violating the GPL.
> 
> I believe GPL v.2 doesn't adequately cover VMs in order to make a
> requirement one way or the other. The GPL doesn't prohibit using the GCC
> to compile proprietary programs and then charging money to use them, so
> I'd think apps in a VM would also not be covered. GPL v.3 might explicitly
> cover this type of situation.
> 
> It is likely moot as Sun usually dual-licenses, so those apps would
> technically be available via the proprietary license of the JVM.
> 
> Then again, what happens if someone has a JVM that is only GPL due to
> changes made by the distro and then runs a proprietary Java app?
> 
> I would think the application provider would not be guilty of busting the
> GPL.
> 
> Not certain that the person using it could be guilty of busting the GPL.
> 
> What if some 3rd party were providing both the GPL-only version of the JVM
> and the proprietary Java app?
> 
> ciao,
> 
> der.hans
>