Re: [xml] The MIT License -> GPL?

[Bob Rossi <bob brasko net>]

On Fri, Aug 06, 2004 at 06:08:27PM -0400, Daniel Veillard wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 06, 2004 at 04:15:11PM -0400, Bob Rossi wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I noticed that libxml is under the MIT license. I want to use libxml in
> > a GPL'd program, keeping the program under the GPL completely. I noticed
>
>   The MIT licence is compatible with the GPL, i.e. you can link an MIT
> Licenced library to a GPL program, best example are all desktop applications
> on Linux which are linked against the X11 libraries which are under the
> MIT Licence. Normal use of the library are just fine with the MIT licence
> in general.

Ok, Thanks.

> > in the MIT license that there is the permission to sublicense. Does this
> > mean that I can take the library and then license it under the GPL?
>
>   Sublicence is not relicencing. You cannot do this, well I don't think so,
> and I would call this a fork considered hostile in my view. Do not do this
> this is foolish, I see no reason for this, this brings nothing to this
> project, I would take it quite personally as an attack, you're warned !

Hehe, you seem a little angry here. Why? Believe me, I am not going to
fork the project :)

I guess I was under the impression that the MIT license grants the user
to use the software and modify it, without the condition of keeping the
modified work under the same license. So, why couldn't I take libxml2,
and just use it in a GPL'd program and say libxml2 is GPL? This is all I
was wondering, I wasn't pulling out the big guns :)

Either way, I was just curious. If I can link an MIT license library to a
GPL'd program, than this satisfies my need. Again, I am very thankful
for the great work put into this library.

> > Does libxml come under the GPL also?
>
>   No.
>   The MIT licence is the one the authors collectively selected, you didn't
> develop that code, but you're entitled to use it as the Licence permits.
> If you really can't use libxml2 within the framework defined by the MIT
> licence (if yes, then why) then use another XML library.

Ok. Thank you.

Thanks,
Bob Rossi