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Suppose I create software that uses a library licensed under the GPL. If I distribute the software including the library, the software would have to be licensed under the GPL as well. But what if I distribute the software without the GPL library? Can the software then be closed source?

For example, I could achieve this by distributing the software without the GPL library, and making it download the GPL library's object files (for dynamic linking) from a third-party source when the software first starts up. In this way, I am not "distributing" the GPL library, so I do not have to comply with the terms of the GPL. The software can then remain closed source. Does this violate the GPL?

Note: By "GPL", I mean the GPLv2 or GPLv3.

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But what if I distribute the software without the GPL library? Can the software then be closed source?

No, your software cannot be closed source.

If the executable that your end-user runs on their device contains any part that is subject to the GPL license, then that license requires that all parts are available under a license that grants the same rights as the GPL. This means that if you make use of a GPL-licensed library, then you must distribute your application under a GPL-compatible open-source license even if you don't distribute the library together with your application.

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  • I am not sure if this applies to the library in the question, but it is worthwhile mentioning the "Linux-syscall-note" as an exception to the short generic answer.
    – Martin_in_AUT
    Aug 10, 2022 at 11:29

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