• QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I’m fairly sure it’s possible to make an iPhone app without copying any of Apple’s copyrighted code or using any of their patents.

    This sounds wrong, but I was never particularly interested in iOS app development, so take that with a grain of salt.

    The GNU GPL prohibits non-GPL software from even dynamically linking to GPL libraries. Assuming that enforcing such a condition is acceptable under relevant copyright law, and that you can’t make an iOS app without linking to any Apple libraries, Apple does have a legal mechanism to enforce this.

    French developers may get a pass, with VLC and all.

    • PJB@lemmy.spacestation14.com
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      8 months ago

      The GPL has an exception for “system libraries” on this regard, but it’s as handwavy as the rest of the license.

      The GPL isn’t meant to be a real license, it’s supposed to be a toxic waste bucket that companies don’t want to interact with. This it succeeds at.

    • Miaou@jlai.lu
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      8 months ago

      The vlc thing is about France not recognising patents on algorithms, unless I’m missing something there’s otherwise no law relevant to software licensing