[Freegis-list] Lx-Viewer (DWG viewer for Linux)

[Jan-Oliver Wagner]

On Mon, Nov 25, 2002 at 08:20:40PM +0000, Guy Edwards wrote:
> apologies if this is drifting OT for this group

this topic perfectly fits this mailing list.

> On Mon, 2002-11-25 at 19:13, Bernhard Reiter wrote:
> Wouldn't the source still be GPL, the code only becoming tainted once
> you compiled it? Remember we aren't allowed to distribute the OpenDWG
> code with our source.
> 
> > 	Adding this exception eliminates the legal issue, but does
> > 	nothing about the more serious problem of using a non-free library:
> > 	your program won't be fully usable in a free environment. 
> 
> Something to consider for the future. Finding an alternative to the
> OpenDWG libraries would mean a lot more work. I seem to remember
> something about KDE originally coming under heavy fire for using
> non-free libraries which was cured by the license for the libraries
> changing in the end? Maybe it's worth sitting tight for now and waiting.

I am concerned with the problem that lx-viewer actually can not be
used for any commercial purpose (as it should be the case for Free Software).

The situation is even more problematic than the KDE/qt case was.
Also I am pretty sure that things will not improve if not worked on.

Substituting OpenDWG might be a painful, but an important way to go.
First, of course, a corresponding request should be forwarded to
OpenDWG on whether they would make their code Free Software and 
if not, why. Once it is clear they will not make their stuff Free
Software it is clear that OpenDWG must eventually be replaced and plans
can be worked out already. Maybe other projects also want to replace OpenDWG
and collaborate?

	Jan

-- 
Jan-Oliver Wagner               http://intevation.de/~jan/

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