[openbeos] Re: mp4 reader now alpha

Michael Pfeiffer wrote: 
But: don't we already use GPLed tools, or have the commandline tools
all been rewritten in MIT code? Because if some GPL tools are already
included, there's no objection to using the GPLed AAC encoders, right?



That depends on how the AAC encoder is linked to other code.
AFAIK code is not forced to be licenced under GPL if it
dynamically linkes GPLed code (GPLed code is provided as an
add-on or a shared library).
If it statically links the GPLed code then the source code
has to be GPLed as well.

I think that dynamically linking is considered being part of the same application, hence virally GPL'ing it. Have a look at this though, http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#NFUseGPLPlugins

- Danny

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