1 		  GNU LIBRARY GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

     1                   GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

     2 		       Version 2, June 1991

     2                        Version 2.1, February 1999

     3 

     3 

     4  Copyright (C) 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

     4  Copyright (C) 1991, 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

     5     		    59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA

     5  51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA

     9 [This is the first released version of the library GPL.  It is

     9 [This is the first released version of the Lesser GPL.  It also counts

    10  numbered 2 because it goes with version 2 of the ordinary GPL.]

    10  as the successor of the GNU Library Public License, version 2, hence

    11 

    11  the version number 2.1.]

    12 			    Preamble

    12 

    13                             Preamble

    19   This license, the Library General Public License, applies to some

    20   This license, the Lesser General Public License, applies to some

    20 specially designated Free Software Foundation software, and to any

    21 specially designated software packages--typically libraries--of the

    21 other libraries whose authors decide to use it.  You can use it for

    22 Free Software Foundation and other authors who decide to use it.  You

    22 your libraries, too.

    23 can use it too, but we suggest you first think carefully about whether

    23 

    24 this license or the ordinary General Public License is the better

    24   When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not

    25 strategy to use in any particular case, based on the explanations below.

    25 price.  Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you

    26 

    26 have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for

    27   When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom of use,

    27 this service if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it

    28 not price.  Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that

    28 if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it

    29 you have the freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge

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    34 you distribute copies of the library, or if you modify it.

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    39 code.  If you link a program with the library, you must provide

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    44   Our method of protecting your rights has two steps: (1) copyright

    48   We protect your rights with a two-step method: (1) we copyright the

    45 the library, and (2) offer you this license which gives you legal

    49 library, and (2) we offer you this license, which gives you legal

    48   Also, for each distributor's protection, we want to make certain

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    57 introduced by others.

    54 

    58 

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    60 free use or not licensed at all.

    64 consistent with the full freedom of use specified in this license.

    61 

    65 

    62   Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the ordinary

    66   Most GNU software, including some libraries, is covered by the

    63 GNU General Public License, which was designed for utility programs.  This

    67 ordinary GNU General Public License.  This license, the GNU Lesser

    64 license, the GNU Library General Public License, applies to certain

    68 General Public License, applies to certain designated libraries, and

    65 designated libraries.  This license is quite different from the ordinary

    69 is quite different from the ordinary General Public License.  We use

    66 one; be sure to read it in full, and don't assume that anything in it is

    70 this license for certain libraries in order to permit linking those

    67 the same as in the ordinary license.

    71 libraries into non-free programs.

    68 

    72 

    69   The reason we have a separate public license for some libraries is that

    73   When a program is linked with a library, whether statically or using

    70 they blur the distinction we usually make between modifying or adding to a

    74 a shared library, the combination of the two is legally speaking a

    71 program and simply using it.  Linking a program with a library, without

    75 combined work, a derivative of the original library.  The ordinary

    72 changing the library, is in some sense simply using the library, and is

    76 General Public License therefore permits such linking only if the

    73 analogous to running a utility program or application program.  However, in

    77 entire combination fits its criteria of freedom.  The Lesser General

    74 a textual and legal sense, the linked executable is a combined work, a

    78 Public License permits more lax criteria for linking other code with

    75 derivative of the original library, and the ordinary General Public License

    79 the library.

    76 treats it as such.

    80 

    77 

    81   We call this license the "Lesser" General Public License because it

    78   Because of this blurred distinction, using the ordinary General

    82 does Less to protect the user's freedom than the ordinary General

    79 Public License for libraries did not effectively promote software

    83 Public License.  It also provides other free software developers Less

    80 sharing, because most developers did not use the libraries.  We

    84 of an advantage over competing non-free programs.  These disadvantages

    81 concluded that weaker conditions might promote sharing better.

    85 are the reason we use the ordinary General Public License for many

    82 

    86 libraries.  However, the Lesser license provides advantages in certain

    83   However, unrestricted linking of non-free programs would deprive the

    87 special circumstances.

    84 users of those programs of all benefit from the free status of the

    88 

    85 libraries themselves.  This Library General Public License is intended to

    89   For example, on rare occasions, there may be a special need to

    86 permit developers of non-free programs to use free libraries, while

    90 encourage the widest possible use of a certain library, so that it becomes

    87 preserving your freedom as a user of such programs to change the free

    91 a de-facto standard.  To achieve this, non-free programs must be

    88 libraries that are incorporated in them.  (We have not seen how to achieve

    92 allowed to use the library.  A more frequent case is that a free

    89 this as regards changes in header files, but we have achieved it as regards

    93 library does the same job as widely used non-free libraries.  In this

    90 changes in the actual functions of the Library.)  The hope is that this

    94 case, there is little to gain by limiting the free library to free

    91 will lead to faster development of free libraries.

    95 software only, so we use the Lesser General Public License.

    96 

    97   In other cases, permission to use a particular library in non-free

    98 programs enables a greater number of people to use a large body of

    99 free software.  For example, permission to use the GNU C Library in

   100 non-free programs enables many more people to use the whole GNU

   101 operating system, as well as its variant, the GNU/Linux operating

   102 system.

   103 

   104   Although the Lesser General Public License is Less protective of the

   105 users' freedom, it does ensure that the user of a program that is

   106 linked with the Library has the freedom and the wherewithal to run

   107 that program using a modified version of the Library.

    96 former contains code derived from the library, while the latter only

   112 former contains code derived from the library, whereas the latter must

    97 works together with the library.

   113 be combined with the library in order to run.

    98 

   114 

    99   Note that it is possible for a library to be covered by the ordinary

   115                   GNU LESSER GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

   100 General Public License rather than by this special one.

   101 

   102 		  GNU LIBRARY GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE

   105   0. This License Agreement applies to any software library which

   118   0. This License Agreement applies to any software library or other

   106 contains a notice placed by the copyright holder or other authorized

   119 program which contains a notice placed by the copyright holder or

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   120 other authorized party saying it may be distributed under the terms of

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   109 addressed as "you".

   122 Each licensee is addressed as "you".

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   258   6. As an exception to the Sections above, you may also compile or

   271   6. As an exception to the Sections above, you may also combine or

   285     b) Accompany the work with a written offer, valid for at

   298     b) Use a suitable shared library mechanism for linking with the

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   300     copy of the library already present on the user's computer system,

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   350 You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to

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   393 versions of the Library General Public License from time to time.

   414 versions of the Lesser General Public License from time to time.

   414 			    NO WARRANTY

   435                             NO WARRANTY

   437 		     END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

   458                      END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

   456     modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public

   477     modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public

   458     version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

   479     version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

   463     Library General Public License for more details.

   484     Lesser General Public License for more details.

   464 

   485 

   465     You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public

   486     You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public

   466     License along with this library; if not, write to the 

   487     License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software

   467     Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, 

   488     Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA

   468     Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA.