Re: [iPAQ] crosscompiling question

On Fri, 21 Dec 2001 9:26pm, Nils Faerber wrote:

> > Please see the applications for the iPAQ at:
> > http://www.trolltech.com/developer/download/qtopia.html

> I strongly agree with the rest of all the people that "complained" about
> the lack of applications. And I also agree on the fact that QTopia, QPE
> and Qt/embedded looks very nice at the first glance.
> But on the second look, as it was already mentioned on the list, the
> licensing terms of Qt/embedded are more than questionable. Moreover there
> will also be a technical problem with it since from what I know it will
> not be possible to mix GPLed and commercial Qt/embedded applications on
> the same device. They have to prevent this so that the dynamic linking
> does not conflict with the GPL.
> I already discussed that with Trolltech and tried to explain to them the
> possibility of dual licensing. But either they did not want to understand
> or plainly did not understand what dual licensing could mean and so the
> email contact ended here.

The Qtopia libraries ARE dual licensed, and multilicensing has been part of
Trolltech's business model for 3 years. Remember, the GPL says only that the
code you are linking to must be "available under the terms of the GPL" it
doesn't say "must only be distributed under the GPL".

For example, the Zaurus ships with libraries which SHARP (the hardware
manufacturer) pays Trolltech runtime royalties. Those libraries are also
available under the terms of the GPL, so you can write GPL-licensed software
for the Zaurus. Only if a device shipped with GPL-only libraries would there
be a problem.

Since this is a licensing discussions, I'll just remind people that
purchasers of a SHARP Zaurus directly fund the progress of embedded Linux on
the handheld, while those who buy a PocketPC device and then install Linux
are paying Microsoft for the privilege. So be a little careful with the
righteousness.

--
Warwick