[sword-devel] Question about Public Domain

[Peter von Kaehne]

Manu,

As a frontend developer you can link to non GPL code. E.g. KDE was built
on QT when it was not GPL. There are non GPL kernel modules. People do
not like this a lot, but it is legal within the confines of the GPL

So if you have e.g. an pre-existing alternative, closed source module
driver, which allows incorporation into GPL code and allows distribution
along with it, then this is fine.

The main question you need to ask yourself is what is derived from what.

GPL is a one way street, so code derived from GPL code needs to be GPL,
but a non-GPL library does not suddenly become GPL by being used in a
GPL programme.

The other possible alternative - and I guess your question is partly
based on your previous collaboration with Lynn on BerBible - is that you
dual license your own GUI code - the part which is not derived from
sword which should probably be possible as long as there is some sort of
abstraction between module driver and GUI.

Peter