libstdc++-v3/docs/html/17_intro/license.html

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   9    <meta name="AUTHOR" content="pme@gcc.gnu.org (Phil Edwards)" />
  10    <meta name="KEYWORDS" content="libstdc++, license, licence" />
  11    <meta name="DESCRIPTION" content="Copying restrictions for libstdc++." />
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  13    <title>libstdc++-v3 copying</title>
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  17
  18 <h1 class="centered"><a name="top">Licenses for the Library</a></h1>
  19
  20 <p>There are two licenses affecting GNU libstdc++-v3:  one for the code, and
  21    one for the documentation.  Here we will describe both of them, and try
  22    to answer some of the widespread questions.  If you have more questions,
  23    ask the FSF or the
  24    <a href="http://gcc.gnu.org/lists.html">gcc mailing list</a>; the person
  25    writing this page is a programmer, not a lawyer.
  26 </p>
  27
  28 <hr />
  29
  30 <h2>The Code:  Runtime GPL</h2>
  31
  32 <p>The source code of libstdc++-v3 is distributed under version 2 of the
  33    <a href="COPYING">GNU General Public License</a>, with the so-called
  34    &quot;runtime exception,&quot; as follows (or see any header or
  35    implementation file):
  36 </p>
  37 <pre>
  38    As a special exception, you may use this file as part of a free software
  39    library without restriction.  Specifically, if other files instantiate
  40    templates or use macros or inline functions from this file, or you compile
  41    this file and link it with other files to produce an executable, this
  42    file does not by itself cause the resulting executable to be covered by
  43    the GNU General Public License.  This exception does not however
  44    invalidate any other reasons why the executable file might be covered by
  45    the GNU General Public License.
  46 </pre>
  47
  48 <p>Hopefully that text is self-explanatory.  If it isn't, you need to speak
  49    to your lawyer, or the Free Software Foundation.
  50 </p>
  51
  52 <!-- Most of the Q&A's are based on, paraphrased from, and outright stolen
  53      from this thread:
  54      http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/libstdc++/2000-q2/subjects.html#00050
  55 -->
  56 <p><strong>Q:  So any program which uses libstdc++ falls under the GPL?</strong>
  57  <br />A:  <strong>No.</strong>  The special exception permits use of the
  58      library in proprietary applications.
  59 </p>
  60
  61 <p><strong>Q:  How is that different from the GNU {Lesser,Library}
  62    GPL?</strong>
  63  <!-- Quoting Jason Merrill from the thread above: -->
  64  <br />A:  The LGPL requires that users be able to replace the LGPL code with a
  65      modified version; this is trivial if the library in question is a C
  66      shared library.  But there's no way to make that work with C++, where
  67      much of the library consists of inline functions and templates, which
  68      are expanded inside the code that uses the library.  So to allow people
  69      to replace the library code, someone using the library would have to
  70      distribute their own source, rendering the LGPL equivalent to the GPL.
  71 </p>
  72
  73 <p><strong>Q:  I see.  So, what restrictions <em>are</em> there on
  74    programs that use the library?</strong>
  75  <br />A:  None.  We encourage such programs to be released as open source,
  76      but we won't punish you or sue you if you choose otherwise.
  77 </p>
  78
  79 <hr />
  80
  81 <h2>The Docs:  FDL</h2>
  82
  83 <p>The documentation shipped with the library and made available over the
  84    web, including the pages generated from source comments, are copyrighted
  85    by the Free Software Foundation, and placed under
  86    the <a href="COPYING.DOC">GNU Free Documentation License version 1.1</a>.
  87    There are no Front-Cover Texts, no Back-Cover Texts, and
  88    <!-- as far as I know -->
  89    no Invariant Sections.
  90 </p>
  91
  92 <p>If you plan on making copies of the documentation, please let us know.
  93    We can probably offer suggestions.
  94 </p>
  95
  96
  97 <!-- ####################################################### -->
  98
  99 <hr />
 100 <p class="fineprint"><em>
 101 Comments and suggestions about this page are welcome, and may be sent to
 102 <a href="mailto:libstdc++@gcc.gnu.org">the libstdc++ mailing list</a>.
 103 Comments or questions about the licenses themselves are also welcome, and
 104 should be directed to the GCC list as descibed above.
 105 </em></p>
 106
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