Grok32Inc promotes the
Grok32` computer language
according to its mission.
Grok32` is
licensed and distributed under the GNU LGPL,
Grok32`s Less General Public License,
or the Grok32License.
Why
is Grok32` Kernel source code distributed as "Free Software"?
Why is "Grok32`s Less General Public License" so named?
What is Grok32Inc's relationship to Grok32`?
The Less General Public License is defined as either the GNU LGPL or Grok32`s Less General Public License. The latter of these was written as an extensively hyperlinked HTML document, that preserves the item numbering in the more general GNU LGPL. Thus, any item, 1 through 16, in the Less General Public License refers to the same item whether the controlling document is the GNU LGPL or Grok32`s Less General Public License.
Grok32Inc exists to realize its mission. Towards, this end, Grok32Inc licenses Grok32` in various forms. Your Grok32` License, (if you have one), is a legal document you received with the Grok32` Language Specification and ancillary software. A valid License, has a specific position in, (and legal relationship to), the Language Specification. Specifically, the License and Warranty, (if there is one), are only legally binding on the Language Specification and the source code it came with.
The HTML documentation for Grok32Inc and its various Licenses, are written without reference to any specific hyperlinked base. The links in these documents will work if they are in the correct place in the Language Specification. By contrast, most of the copyrighted work is intentionally localized to work on a specific licensee's site. Furthermore, Grok32Subscribers may receive software updates which are incorporated into the Language Specification, but which are not be covered by their old License. The License documents must, nonetheless, work in the updated Language Specification. Furthermore, each License versions must be uniform from site to site. In practical terms, a License is a dated legal document, whereas, the Language Specification and ancillary software is an evolving constellation of documents defining Grok32`. The operative date of the License, determines which time-dated Language Specification and ancillary software applies to that License. (Grok32Subscribers get a fresh License when their subscriptions are renewed.)
Grok32` must be
"free software" if it is compiled with a C compiler
distributed under the LGPL. The
argument hinges on the fact that the Compile[...]
keyword needs a C compiler. Specifically, Compile[...]
is expected to use the GNU C Compiler as a subcomponent.
The GNU C Compiler is distributed under the LGPL, which requires any incorporating
software to distribute under the LGPL
as well. Grok32`s keyword
"Compile[...],"
will use the GNU C Compiler to "create an executable that is
a derivative of the [Compiler]". The relevant
License language is argued in the boxed text area below.
On the other hand, a version of Grok32` which has a diminished version
of Compile[...]
could be written in C such that it does not require distribution
under the LGPL. This version will
be distributed where it is advantageous to be unbeholden to license.
Insofar as it relates to Grok32`, item 6 of the Less Free Public Software License states that,
[Y]ou may also combine or link a "work that uses Grok32`" with Grok32` to produce a work containing portions of Grok32`, and distribute that work under terms of your choice, provided that the terms permit modification of the work for the customer's own use and reverse engineering for debugging such modifications.
If Grok32` is
"made" with, and uses the GNU C Compiler and the GNU C Libraries,
then Grok32` falls into this
exception. That means all of the following is a prescription
for how to present Grok32` to the
world (if you are presenting a work containing portions of Grok32`).]
[The following are excerpts from
the LGPL that argue that Grok32` must be freeware if Compile[...]
is built around an LGPL compiler
(specifically GNU C Etc).]
"[L]inking a "work that uses the Library" with the
Library creates an executable that is a derivative of the Library
(because it contains portions of the Library), rather than a "work that
uses the library". The executable is therefore covered by this License."
[As a result, the "terms
for distribution of such executables" require:]
"You must give prominent notice with each copy of the work
that GNU C Etc. is used in it and that GNU C Etc. and its use are
covered by this License. You must supply a copy of this License. If the work
during execution displays copyright notices, you must include the copyright
notice for GNU C Etc. among them, as well as a reference directing the
user to the copy of this License.
Also, you must use a suitable shared library mechanism for
linking with GNU C Etc. A suitable mechanism is one that (1) uses at run
time a copy of the library already present on the user's computer system,
rather than copying library functions into the executable, and (2) will operate
properly with a modified version of GNU C Etc., if the user installs
one, as long as the modified version is interface-compatible with the version
that the work was made with.
For an executable, the required form of the "work that
uses GNU C Etc." must include any data and utility programs needed
for reproducing the executable from it. However, as a special exception,
the materials to be distributed need not include anything that is normally
distributed (in either source or binary form) with the major components
(compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system on which the executable
runs, unless that component itself accompanies the executable.
It may happen that this requirement contradicts the license
restrictions of other proprietary libraries that do not normally accompany the
operating system. Such a contradiction means you cannot use both them and GNU
C Etc. together in an executable that you distribute."
[The underlined sentence above is the legal explanation of why Grok32`
will have to be Free Software
(in the sense of publishing its source
code) if it links to GNU C Etc.]
The Grok32` Website is a constellation of HTML
files with copyright notices placed on the lower right corner of each document
as displayed by HTML browsers. There are different copyright licenses
depending on whether a document is part of the Language Specification, the
Kernal Source Code,
Application Software, or ancillary public domain documents. These four
document types each have different copyright license, ranging from exclusive
ownership to public domain.
{"All rights reserved.", ..., "Lesser General Public License"}
� 2004, 2005
by John Van Wie Bergamini
All rights reserved.