what does constitute "linking"? - correction

[Janez Pers]

Hubert Figuiere wrote:
> On 06/18/2009 10:57 AM, Janez Pers wrote:
>> Janez Pers wrote:
>>
>>> 3. I write my (proprietary) application "B" in a way that uses
>>> library A's services through TCP sockets, and do not publish
>>> this source. I sell the binaries of B and bundle them with
>>> binaries of socketized version of A. I even put it on
>>> sourceforge - no hidden tricks here.
>> Sorry for this mixup - no, I dont put my proprietary source
>> on sourceforge, just the socketized version of the library A, but I
>> keep my proprietary software (the client) secret.
> 
> Why don't you juste share it? After all somebody share the library so
> that you can use it, so it would be fair that in exchange you give
> something back.
> 
> Don't you think?

Well, I asked for a legal view. Regarding the spirit of open source, I 
am pretty much sure that it violates it, but the spirit is not
enforceable.

Few side comments:

I did not yet do any of this, I am asking for clarification
to plan my future activities. The reason for this would be for
example that the development would be paid by someone else who does
not want the financed product to be available to everyone, not
my/our greediness. And the initial motivation, as I described, comes
from different idea.

Regarding giving something back - a socketized (or 'net enabled')
version IS something that would be given back to community, enabling
many more applications to use the library (of course, since the
non-GPLed ones would be able to use it as well, this is a two-edged sword).

Janez.