License: Add exception to load non-GPL DLL's

[jespersmith]

From my interpretation of the GPL, this library can only load DLL's that are compatible with the GPL (loading a dll makes a combined work, which would fall 100% under the GPL). As DLL's are not commonly licensed under the GPL or other open source license (which would allow recompilation for Linux instead of using this library), it would be beneficial to allow this.

If this is by design, feel free to close this issue.

According to the FAQ from the FSF, a workaround would to be to add an exception to the GPL license (https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLIncompatibleLibs)

For example:

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In addition, as a special exception, the copyright holders of LoadLibrary give you permission to combine LoadLibrary with free software programs or libraries that are released under the GNU LGPL and with code included in any DLL library in Portable Executable (PE) format. You may copy and distribute such a system following the terms of the GNU GPL for LoadLibrary and the licenses of the other code concerned.

Note that people who make modified versions of LoadLibrary are not obligated to grant this special exception for their modified versions; it is their choice whether to do so. The GNU General Public License gives permission to release a modified version without this exception; this exception also makes it possible to release a modified version which carries forward this exception.

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[taviso]

That would be okay with me, but some of the code is derived from ndiswrapper which is GPL2+ (i.e. any version of GPL >= 2), so I don't think it's okay to add my own exceptions. It's not a huge amount of code, so it could be reimplemented if there's a lot of interest.

[trulede]

Hi, I have a similar situation and wonder if you could indicate where the GPL2+ code is in your project?