Nicolas Mailhot wrote:
Yes, but one part only affects another if it can be considered a derivative work,If you have the right to distribute each component separately and the existence of a usable gplv2 copy prevents things that happen to link to the gplv3 version from being considered a derivative work, what'stheproblemBecause you can't limit yourself to analysing components separately. The distribution itself is an aggregate work that is subject to copyright laws as a whole.The distribution *as a whole* is a derivative work. You can say parts are mere aggregation but that does not work for parts that link together and have no alternative within the distribution (or alternatives distribution tools will never install). Fedora would not be liable for GPLv2 foo or GPLv3 samba separately, but by distributing a "Fedora" product which is both together.
In the case of fgmp vs. gmp it was never necessary to distribute the fgmp library. The mere fact that it existed as a possible alternate kept the code that might link to it from being considered a derivative work of gmp - which is what everyone actually used.
-- Les Mikesell lesmikesell gmail com