holder of each of the two works.

In this case, GPLv2~\S2 lays out the terms by which \gplusi{} may be

distributed and copied.  By default, under copyright law, the copyright

holder of \worki{} would not have been permitted to distribute \gplusi{};

copyright law forbids it without the expressed permission of the copyright

holder of \workg{}. (Imagine, for a moment, if \workg{} were a proprietary

product --- would its copyright holders  give you permission to create and distribute

\gplusi{} without paying them a hefty sum?)  The license of \workg{}, the

GPL, states the  options for the copyright holder of \worki{}

who may want to create and distribute \gplusi{}. The  GPL's pre-granted

permission to create and distribute combined and/or derivative works, provided the terms

of the GPL are upheld, goes far above and beyond the permissions that one

would get with a typical work not covered by a copyleft license.  Thus, to

say that this condition is any way unreasonable is simply ludicrous.

The GPL  recognizes what is outside its scope.  When a programmer's work is

``separate and independent'' from any GPL'd program code with which it could be

combined, then the obligations of copyleft do not extend to the work

separately distributed.  Thus, Far from attempting to extend copyleft beyond the

scope of copyright, the licenses explicitly recognize.

Thus, GPL recognizes what is outside its scope.  When a programmer's work is

``separate and independent'' from any GPL'd program code with which it could

be combined, then copyleft obligations do not extend to the independent work

separately distributed.  Thus, far from attempting to extend copyleft beyond

the scope of copyright, GPL explicitly limits the scope of copyleft to the

scope of copyright.

GPL does not, however (as is sometimes suggested) distinguish ``dynamic''

from ``static'' linking of program code.  It is occasionally suggested that a

subroutine ``dynamically'' linked to GPL'd code is, by virtue of the linking

alone, inherently outside the scope of copyleft on the main work.  This is a

misunderstanding.  When two software components are joined together to make

one work (whether a main and some library subroutines, two objects with their

respective methods, or a program and a ``plugin'') the combination infringes

the copyright on the components if the combination required copyright

permission from the component copyright holders, as such permission was

either not available or was available on terms that were not observed.

In other words, when combining other software with GPL'd components, the only

available permission is GPL\@.  The combiner must observe and respect the GPL

observed on the combination as a whole.  It matters not if that combination

is made with a linker before distribution of the executable, is made by the

operating system in order to share libraries for execution efficiency at

runtime, or results from runtime references in the language at runtime (as in

Java programs).

\medskip

\label{GPLv2s2-at-no-charge}

The next phrase of note in GPLv2~\S2(b) is ``licensed \ldots at no charge.''

This phrase  confuses many.  The sloppy reader points out this as ``a

contradiction in GPL'' because (in their confused view) that clause of GPLv2~\S2 says that re-distributors cannot

charge for modified versions of GPL'd software, but GPLv2~\S1 says that

they can.  Avoid this confusion: the ``at no charge'' \textbf{does not} prohibit re-distributors from

charging when performing the acts governed by copyright

law,\footnote{Recall that you could by default charge for any acts not

governed by copyright law, because the license controls are confined

by copyright.} but rather that they cannot charge a fee for the

\emph{license itself}.  In other words, redistributors of (modified

and unmodified) GPL'd works may charge any amount they choose for

performing the modifications on contract or the act of transferring

the copy to the customer, but they may not charge a separate licensing

fee for the software.

GPLv2~\S2(b) further states that the software must ``be licensed \ldots to all

third parties.''  This too yields some confusion, and feeds the

misconception mentioned earlier --- that all modified versions must be made

available to the public at large.  However, the text here does not say

that.  Instead, it says that the licensing under terms of the GPL must

extend to anyone who might, through the distribution chain, receive a copy

of the software.  Distribution to all third parties is not mandated here,

but GPLv2~\S2(b) does require re-distributors to license the whole work in

a way that extends to all third parties who may ultimately receive a

copy of the software.

In summary, GPLv2\ 2(b) says what terms under which the third parties must

receive this no-charge license.  Namely, they receive it ``under the terms

of this License'', the GPLv2.  When an entity \emph{chooses} to redistribute

a work based on GPL'd software, the license of that whole 

work must be GPL and only GPL\@.  In this manner, GPLv2~\S2(b) dovetails nicely

with GPLv2~\S6 (as discussed in Section~\ref{GPLv2s6} of this tutorial).

\medskip

The final paragraph of GPLv2~\S2 is worth special mention.  It is possible and

quite common to aggregate various software programs together on one

distribution medium.  Computer manufacturers do this when they ship a

pre-installed hard drive, and GNU/Linux distribution vendors do this to

give a one-stop CD or URL for a complete operating system with necessary

applications.  The GPL very clearly permits such ``mere aggregation'' with

programs under any license.  Despite what you hear from its critics, the

GPL is nothing like a virus, not only because the GPL is good for you and

a virus is bad for you, but also because simple contact with a GPL'd

code-base does not impact the license of other programs.  A programmer must