Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!fluke!ssc-vax!coy
From: coy@ssc-vax.UUCP (Stephen B Coy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Re^2: GNU programs, copyleft (was Re: IS MT UUCP Legal??) (long)
Message-ID: <2797@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jul 89 16:44:43 GMT
References: <4456ee6c.14a1f@gtephx.UUCP> <1602@atari.UUCP> <20384@cup.portal.com> <1603@atari.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle WA
Lines: 25

In article <1603@atari.UUCP>, apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt) writes:
> Pretend I didn't post anything earlier, just answer the
> question: under what circumstances can I use GCC to create a program
> without having to make anything but the executable available, under
> copyleft?

Ok, your code compiled with GCC is yours to do with as you will.
If you link in GNU libraries then the executable is covered by the
copyleft.  The underlying idea here is pretty simple.  GCC is a
translator from C source to object.  When you put your code in, what
comes out is still your code but in a different form.  The
libraries, however, are GNU code and therefore anything containing
them fall under copyleft.  The same idea applies to Bison.  Bison is
a translator so if you put your code in, what come out is still your
code.  BUT beware, the parser skeleton which is included by default
is GNU code.  If you want to use Bison for commercial developement
you must supply your own parser skeleton.

> Opinions expressed above do not necessarily	-- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
> reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else.	  ...ames!atari!apratt

I hope this helped.

Stephen Coy
uw-beaver!ssc-vax!coy