[Mono-list] Use of mcs sources

[Jonathan Pryor]

You didn't specify which parts of "mcs source code" you wanted to use;
this could refer to either the mcs.exe (the C# compiler) sources, or to
the class library sources (which are in the "mcs" CVS repository). 
Thus, I will clarify things.

Licenses are a per-assembly construct, not a per-repository construct.

So, in the "mcs" CVS repository, the mcs.exe assembly (sources in /mcs)
is GPL.  Many (but not all, IIRC) of the tools (sources in /tools) are
also GPL, but some are MIT X11 (again, IIRC).

The class libraries (sources in /class) are MIT X11.

In general, .exe's are GPL, and .dll's are MIT X11.  The only exceptions
to this rule are some .exe's (which are X11); all .dll's should be X11.

Of course, this doesn't affect "fair use" of the source code.  You
should be able to use GPL source code to determine how it works, and use
that knowledge in new code; literal copying generally isn't permitted. 
Fair use might allow some literal copying, though; this gets into a lot
of gray areas of copyright law, so it's probably best to just avoid it.

Or, write GPL code and use the existing mcs.exe code as much as you
want.

 - Jon

On Mon, 2003-11-10 at 02:50, haamsteer@inicia.es wrote:
> Hi list!
> 
> I'm a bit confused about licenses... Can I use parts of the mcs source code
> (GPL License) in a BSD proyect? Can I simply use parts of mcs sources?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> 
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