Using GPL'd software in BSD-licensed app

[Justin Wells]

On Wed, May 10, 2000 at 07:03:31PM -0700, David Johnson wrote:

> If you want to release your own original code under any other license
> besides the GPL, then you can't include or link to someone else's
> GPLd code. 
> 
> But you still have the source code explaining the algorithm in great
> detail. Write your own original version. It's a bit more work, but
> that's the price you pay for the freedom to use your own license.

I'm not sure this is such a good idea. If you look at the GPL code and then
write your own, and your code turns out to be substantially the same as the 
GPL code, you might be infringing. 

Isn't this why chip designers use clean room techniques?

Justin