[Tutor] Regarding licensing GPL terms

[Kent Johnson]

Anup Rao wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I am writing an application that uses a python libary  (a *.so file) 
> generated using SWIG.
> This library  makes direct system calls to the Linux kernel.
> This raises three questions.
> 
> a> Does this mean that the library must be distributed under GPL terms?

I don't think so. I believe Linux has a library exception to the GPL 
that permits linking against it, though I can't find a reference to this 
at the moment.
> 
> b> Can I distribute it as LGPL?

I think so.
> 
> c> Also, does any python script that uses this module have to be 
> distributed under GPL , LGPL, or is the PSF license sufficient?
>      My preference would be the PSF but I am not sure if it is ok.

The PSF itself discourages using the PSF license for non-PSF code. You 
should probably consider a BSD or MIT license if you want something more 
liberal than LGPL.

I am not a lawyer and I could be wrong!

Kent