Can Java code EVER be GPLd, at all?

[Alex Nicolaou]

Angelo Schneider wrote:

> In my impression the shell script is not GPL. Because you can replace
> each
> "little program" which is used simply by changing your PATH variable.
> (or by replacing the programs)
> 
> If you want to replace a GPLed set of JAVA classes you have to follow
> the
> "package.subpackage.class shema".

I'll grant you that it is harder, but it is possible to write a class
loader that will repackage the incoming classfile into some consistent
package, so that as long as the class can be recognized as the one you
need it is translated at load time and works in the application. In
cases where the API is designed for pluggable implementation it would be
even easier; simply changing the CLASSPATH can change what
implementation is fetched, and a small amount of code added to the
program can make sure that the version in use is detected and used
appropriately. This is roughly the equivalent of editing the path to
load the right binary. In both cases the subprogram must implement the
same type of behaviour for the overall program to work, and it is
possible for the end user of the program to substitute different
implementations of the code. 

In the end, I agree that the shell script is not forced to be GPL. The
Java case is fairly analogous and thus pretty gray. The gray areas are
very dangerous for us, but many people seem to be intent on ignoring
them - I hope we can afford to.

(offtopic thoughts follow)

On that note, we are fortunate that Microsoft is embroiled in the DOJ
trial and has not had the time and freedom to start reacting to the
halloween memos. I believe that one of their most successful tactics to
combat open source will be to bring many of these types of gray areas to
trial in a court of law, suing any commercial competitor who is making
use of a gray area of the GPL. For example, it is not clear that
commercial programs for Linux are actually writable given the language
of the GPL. It would be an irony beyond measure to have Microsoft sue
Corel and others for providing proprietary software for Linux ... just
as in Sun vs Microsoft it doesn't even matter if they win or lose, it
only matters that they delay the market from choosing one of their
competitors due to the uncertainty that a string of such lawsuits would
cause.

alex