Dynamic and Static Linking

[Bruce Perens]

From: David Johnson <david at usermode.org>
> In respect to the GPL, the right to dynamically link to a library could
> very well be one of the rights of copyright held by the author. Then
> again, it might not be. I'm not so sure.

The only court case I know of concerning dynamic linking so far has been
Nintendo vs.  Golob, and it was not conclusive on this issue.

Stallman's position on this last time I asked him is that dynamic linking
of non-GPL objects to GPL objects is a device being used to _deliberately_
_circumvent_ the license terms, and thus a court would still hold it as
infringement in the same way as if it was static linking.  I assume he
has advice on this from the Columbia law professor who helps him out with
the GPL. But until you get a court case, you won't see a ruling on it.

	Thanks

	Bruce