A few comments

[Ethan Blanton]

Michael spake unto us the following wisdom:
> Please note:  This is an honest question, not flamebait or bashing:
> 
> I may be missing something, but I fail to see how it is an abomination.
>  How can releasing the source code to something that happens to link
> between a GPL library and a non-free library be a horrible bad thing?
> Obviously it can't be included in pidgin binaries, and maybe even the
> author couldn't release it as a binary, but how can it be bad for the
> author to make the source code for his plugin available without
> distributing the non-free skype stuff?  Is it somehow bad to say "My
> code is open source, but it's not going to do much for you if you don't
> agree to skype's conditions when you download their library from them"

From the GPL:

  You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients'
  exercise of the rights granted herein.

Requiring the acceptance of a third-party license which is more
restrictive than the GPL violates this term.  A Pidgin plugin cannot
violate the GPL itself, and so, transitively, a Pidgin plugin cannot
link or require software which adds restrictions.  This is the same
reason that we cannot support OpenSSL on any system but OpenBSD (and,
some argue, OSX) -- it is licensed under a version of the BSD license
which adds additional restrictions (regarding advertising).

> It seems that you would just be offering up code that binds some stuff
> together, and it is up to the end user to decide whether they want to
> use it or not (This all presumes the plugin author is just releasing
> source only).

That would be correct, if Pidgin's license explicitly allowed non-free
plugins.  Some software does this; Pidgin does not.

Ethan

-- 
The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws [that have no remedy
for evils].  They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor
determined to commit crimes.
		-- Cesare Beccaria, "On Crimes and Punishments", 1764
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