Rust's Redox OS could show Linux a few new tricks (InfoWorld)

Rust's Redox OS could show Linux a few new tricks (InfoWorld)

No, it can't be in any meaningful way. GPL requires redistribution under GPL. Full stop.

Non-GPL doesn't require redistribution under GPL simply because it might conceivably be brought together with GPL.

Suppose I write a program with a command-line interface and license the source code under the MIT licence. Both the source code and any resulting binaries can therefore be distributed under the terms of the MIT licence. If I add the build-system machinery required to optionally let people, if they so desire, link my program with a copy of GNU Readline (which is distributed under the GPL) that they supply themselves, that means a binary resulting from that operation must be distributed under the GPL if and only if these people deliberately decide to distribute it at all. That, however, in no way prevents me – or anyone else – from distributing the original source (or binaries that don't include GNU Readline) under the MIT licence. Even people who receive source for both my program and GNU Readline under the GPL applying to the combination binary would be free to distribute the source for my program, or binaries of my program that aren't linked to GNU Readline, under its original MIT licence. Hence the GPL on GNU Readline can't “infect” my original program against my wishes or the wishes of any recipient.

Of course if somebody intentionally decides to base a program on GPL'ed code where the GPL code isn't optional, that means the program can only be distributed in accordance with the GPL. But that is no different in principle from basing a program on code under some proprietary licence where the proprietary licence makes stipulations as to if and how the resulting program can be distributed. That's not “being viral”, it's just how copyright works. Generally if software authors don't like the way stuff they wish to use is licenced (GPL or otherwise), they're free to find alternatives with licences that are more acceptable to them. People who are “infected” with a “virus” usually have no such choice.