Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Parnikkapore]

Hi Guix!

I realized a while ago that, since pretty much all Guix channels have to import some module from Guix (e.g. (guix packages)), it's basically impossible for a Guix channel to have any license other than GPLv3 or GPLv3+.

Is this correct? If this is true, I'll have to relicense my channel accordingly. (it's currently under LGPL since that's my preference)

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Hi Parnikkapore!

One view is that GPL does not propagate, because the Guile language does
not link.

If Guix’ GPL would propagate, then the GPL2 of libgit2 would propagate
to Guix.

Regards,
Florian

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Saku Laesvuori]

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> One view is that GPL does not propagate, because the Guile language does
> not link.

This would be a very dangerous interpretation and clearly go against the
spirit of the GPL: any proprietary software could use any GPL software
if they were written in a language that doesn't link. There is a lot of
python code, for example, under the GPL and it would have no protection
against being used in proprietary programs.

> If Guix’ GPL would propagate, then the GPL2 of libgit2 would propagate
> to Guix.

Libgit2 defines an exception that it may be linked against programs
under any license, and I would consider FFI or whatever Guile uses to
interact with the compiled libgit2 library to qualify as linking.

I feel like Guix' GPL would propagate, but you could ask
licensing@fsf.org what they think about it.

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Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Dr. Arne Babenhauserheide]

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Saku Laesvuori <saku@laesvuori.fi> writes:

>> One view is that GPL does not propagate, because the Guile language does
>> not link.
>
> This would be a very dangerous interpretation and clearly go against the
> spirit of the GPL: any proprietary software could use any GPL software
> if they were written in a language that doesn't link. There is a lot of
> python code, for example, under the GPL and it would have no protection
> against being used in proprietary programs.

The GPLv3 uses the definition of "intimate data communication". I’m
pretty sure a Guix channel has that with Guix, so the license must be
GPL compatible.

Best wishes,
Arne
-- 
Unpolitisch sein
heißt politisch sein,
ohne es zu merken.
draketo.de

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Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Saku Laesvuori <saku@laesvuori.fi> writes:
> Libgit2 defines an exception that it may be linked against programs
> under any license,

Thank you, GNU Guix’ decisions make more sense now.  Should have checked
the license comment in “guix edit libgit2”.  So that argument is gone;
still it is not clear if copyright can even apply if we only link.

That said, the user-friendly decision for Parnikkapore would be to just
listen to Saku and Arne, because some users don’t like a murky legal
status.

Regards,
Florian

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

"pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> writes:
> still it is not clear if copyright can even apply if we only link.

Sorry bad typo.  I meant
still it is not clear if copyright can even apply if we don’t link.

I’m playing devil’s advocate here though.  Just use GPL.

Regards,
Florian

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Dr. Arne Babenhauserheide]

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"pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> writes:

> "pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)" <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de> writes:
>> still it is not clear if copyright can even apply if we only link.
>
> Sorry bad typo.  I meant
> still it is not clear if copyright can even apply if we don’t link.

I’m pretty sure that it can. For GPLv2 linking was named by the GPL as
the limit, but that’s not inherent to copyright: the license gives you
some rights, and if you’re outside what the license allows *and* outside
what some copyright exception in the law allows, you’re not allowed to
use it at all.

Best wishes,
Arne
-- 
Unpolitisch sein
heißt politisch sein,
ohne es zu merken.
draketo.de

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Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[pelzflorian (Florian Pelz)]

Parnikkapore <poomklao@yahoo.com> writes:
> it's basically
> impossible for a Guix channel to have any license other than GPLv3 or
> GPLv3+.

With further thought:
Actually you can use LGPL or anything that is GPL-compatible.  If
someone manages to use your Guix channel in a way that does not
involve Guix, they are not bound by Guix’ GPL.

Regards,
Florian

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[david larsson]

On 2023-06-12 14:13, Parnikkapore wrote:
> Hi Guix!
> 
> I realized a while ago that, since pretty much all Guix channels have
> to import some module from Guix (e.g. (guix packages)), it's basically
> impossible for a Guix channel to have any license other than GPLv3 or
> GPLv3+.
> 
> Is this correct? If this is true, I'll have to relicense my channel
> accordingly. (it's currently under LGPL since that's my preference)

The GPL faq has many good answers, a couple relevant ones might be:

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#LinkingWithGPL

https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLInProprietarySystem

Best regards,
David

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Maxim Cournoyer]

Hi David,

david larsson <david.larsson@selfhosted.xyz> writes:

> On 2023-06-12 14:13, Parnikkapore wrote:
>> Hi Guix!
>> I realized a while ago that, since pretty much all Guix channels
>> have
>> to import some module from Guix (e.g. (guix packages)), it's basically
>> impossible for a Guix channel to have any license other than GPLv3 or
>> GPLv3+.
>> Is this correct? If this is true, I'll have to relicense my channel
>> accordingly. (it's currently under LGPL since that's my preference)

I believe that's correct.  If your channel is public/distributed to
someone, it ought to be GPLv3+.

-- 
Thanks,
Maxim

Re: Can Guix channels be non-GPL?

[Parnikkapore]

Thank you for all the replies! I'll likely relicense my channel to GPL3(+). As a bonus, this will also allow me to reuse parts of rde in the future.