in reply to ethical software development

You can do whatever the hell you want with code copyrighted by you. If you do not own the copyright on all of the code you use (such as the inclusion of GPL'ed code within your own code), then you are subject to the lowest-common-denominator of licenses of the copyrighted works you are using.

Simply using other Perl modules doesn't count. You may be bundling them with your own code, but your product is not composed of a derivative of their code, you are simply re-distributing their code without modification. Even if you do modify their code, by distributing it you are simply releasing your modifications under their license (the GPL). This in no way "infects" your application.

Generally the code is yours to do with as you please, unless you have cut/pasted code written by somebody else into your own application, at which point (assuming it's GPL'ed), it's illegal for you to re-distribute the result without GPL'ing it in turn.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: ethical software development
by zigster (Hermit) on Jan 12, 2001 at 14:08 UTC
    Totally right, my take is that as long as you dont place a more restrictive license upon the GPL'ed components you are fine. So for example if you modify them then you may not place a more restrictive licence upon your mods as they then form part of the GPL'ed whole. If however you -use- them within your code (as in 'use' them) then your code can have what ever license you want.
    --

    Zigster