[plug] KDE licence (was Debian was Mandrake)

[Greg Mildenhall]

On Fri, 25 Feb 2000, russ wrote:
> Greg Mildenhall wrote:
> > KDE uses code that was licensed to the KDE people under the GPL, thus
> > _requiring_ that KDE be licensed only under the terms of the GPL. The
> > LGPL will not suffice in this instance.
> What code does it use that's GPL? 
Numerous utilities that have had a "k" added to the front of their name,
for a start. :) Some of the core WM and browser code, I believe. I really
don't know the specifics.

> Is linux GPL?
The kernel is, yes, but you don't link to the kernel. The GNU C Libraries
are LGPLed, IIRC. By the above this should mean you can't link GPLed
software to them, but there is an exception for operating system libraries
which I am too lazy to track down and quote - this is because there are
systems that only have proprietary standard interfaces, and porting to
them would be well-nigh impossible without this exemption.

-Greg