LibRaw: possible license issues

[Ralf Corsepius]

On 11/26/2012 07:29 PM, Debarshi Ray wrote:
>>>> Why does it matter?  Their code hasn't changed, and has not become GPLv3.
>>>> The package is GPLv3+.
>>>
>>> It matters because Shotwell links to GStreamer.
>>>
>>> GStreamer applications either opt for LGPLv2+ or GPLv2+ with exceptions
>>> because they might end up using proprietary or otherwise unfavourably
>>> licensed GStreamer plugins .
>>
>> Which is fine, because GPLv3+ is compatible with LGPLv2+ or GPLv2+.
>
> You missed the "proprietary or otherwise unfavourably licensed"
> part. :-) There are proprietary GStreamer plugins for patent
> encumbered formats. eg., the MP3 codecs from Fluendo.

I am not familiar with gstreamer's internals, but AFAIIK, these plugins 
aren't linked, but "dlopen'ed".

Otherwise these "plugins" would not be "plugins" ;)

Ralf