Using GPL'd software in BSD-licensed app

[laurent.duperval at cgi.ca]

On 10 May, Scott Johnston wrote:
> You can't mix GPL and BSD code if you want to remain with a BSD license.
> 
> What functionality are you looking for?  You might be able to find it
> embedded in a larger collection of BSD-licensed software somewhere, and be
> able to copy/paste what you need.
> 

I'm writing a Tcl application for which I want to display a graph. I have
some choices: using a compiled extension (a few of these exist) or a
Tcl-only one. For cross-platform reasons, I want a Tcl-only implementation.
I only found one, which is GPL'd. But my code is an addition to an existing
BSD-licensed application (a stock quote thingie).

There is no compiled code involved and all the sources are always available
for the user to read. I know that if I put a GPL on my code, a number of
people (including the author of the stock quote stuff) won't want to use it
or add anything to it.

If I make use of GPL code without distributing it (i.e. I tell people,
"youneed package Foo to use this"), am I still bound by the GPL?

L

-- 
Laurent Duperval                   "Montreal winters are an intelligence test,
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