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[Python-Dev] GPL'd python code vs Python2.6 linked against OpenSSL

Stephen J. Turnbull stephen at xemacs.org
Thu Mar 10 07:05:10 CET 2011 
Westley Martínez writes:

 > Is it legal to distribute GPL programs that use the Win32 API?

Yes.  Their use of the Win32 API falls under the "essential system
library" clause.  The criterion for "essential" is that normal, basic
use of the system would fail without the library.  Windows won't boot
without Win32 API support, so it satisfies that clause.

OpenSSL is needed only by a minority of programs, and Python itself
will run without it, so OpenSSL will not qualify for that exception.
As Martin points out, that's not relevant to Python, since it can be
built without and Python is not a GPL program.  And as Antoine points
out, it's not relevant to Python programs unless they actually call
OpenSSL functions.  In that case only, the program becomes a
derivative of OpenSSL, and only with agreement of all owners of GPLed
code in the program may the program be distributed.  (Ie, if they all
agree to the special exception for specific non-GPL libraries that
Joao Bueno describes.)
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