LGPL Libraries in Embedded Devices

LGPL Libraries in Embedded Devices

Posted Aug 12, 2012 13:23 UTC (Sun) by khim (subscriber, #9252)
In reply to: LGPL Libraries in Embedded Devices by mjg59
Parent article: Digia acquires Qt

LGPLv2.1 has requirements that GPLv2 doesn't have.

Rilly? This means all Linux distributions are blatant copyright violators because they link LGPL2.1-covered crt1.o with mass of GPLv2-licensed and GPLv3-licensed code and GPL is quite adamant about “any further restrictions”. Usual “system libraries” excuse does not help here because it's only applicable “unless that component itself accompanies the executable”.

Sorry, but no: LGPLv2.1 contains only additional permissions.

So there's plenty of code in embedded devices that's distributed under the terms of LGPLv2.1, and so you have to be concerned about the additional requirements that LGPLv2.1 contains.

Only if you use additional options given to you by LGPLv2.1… Yes, they are conditional, but so what? It's still additional options, not additional restrictions. If you feel safe distributing GPLv2 code (such as Linux kernel) then you should feel yourself equally safe distributing LGPLv2.1 code.

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