Cygwin Licensing for Native Windows Apps

Cygwin Licensing for Native Windows Apps

[steve.siano]

Dear Cygwin Licensing Team, 

What are the licensing terms for native Windows apps developed under Cygwin by compiling and linking with the -mno-cygwin flag?  These apps do not use the Cygwin dll.  Can they be distributed as proprietary apps without purchasing the Redhat Cygwin license buy-out? 

I have studied the GPL FAQ and the Cygwin Licensing Page and did not see a clear answer to this case. 

Sincerely, 

Steve Siano 
408 873-1101, home 
408 204-6571, cell

Re: Cygwin Licensing for Native Windows Apps

[Corinna Vinschen]

On Mar 19 04:49, steve.siano@comcast.net wrote:
> Dear Cygwin Licensing Team, 
> 
> What are the licensing terms for native Windows apps developed under
> Cygwin by compiling and linking with the -mno-cygwin flag?  These
> apps do not use the Cygwin dll.  Can they be distributed as
> proprietary apps without purchasing the Redhat Cygwin license buy-out? 

The Cygwin licensing terms are referring to applications linked against
the Cygwin DLL.  For the license only the application counts.  It doesn't
matter that you created the application with a compiler linked against
Cygwin.

Of course, even if your applications don't use the Cygwin DLL, you have
to make sure that you're in compliance with the licenses of the other
libs you're linking against, but that doesn't affect cygwin licensing
anymore.


Corinna

-- 
Corinna Vinschen                  Please, send mails regarding Cygwin to
Cygwin Project Co-Leader          cygwin AT cygwin DOT com
Red Hat