gpl backlash?

[Martin Konold]

On 28 Jul 1999 bruce at perens.com wrote:

> 1. If an alternate implementation from mine exists
> 2. and is available for the user to run with your application on that platform
> 3. and the user actually has to have it to run your application.
> 
> Postulate that you write an application that works with a library full of
> no-op stubs. That library just happens to match the interface of a GPL-ed
> product I've written, and with that library it is a functioning product. Then
> you ship that application with the _intent_ that the user combine it with my
> library to run it, which is demonstrated by the fact that it doesn't do useful
> work any other way or you haven't shipped an alternative library to that same
> user. I think I'd have a legitimate complaint.

Bruce: Are you shure that "intent" has any legal meaning?

Regards,
-- martin

// Martin Konold, Herrenbergerstr. 14, 72070 Tuebingen, Germany  //
KDE:  A stable GUI for a reliable OS.