Re: cdrtools

[Goswin von Brederlow <brederlo@informatik.uni-tuebingen.de>]

Joerg Schilling <schilling@fokus.fraunhofer.de> writes:

> Josselin Mouette <joss@debian.org> wrote:
>> GR stated that invariant sections aren't acceptable for the specific
>> GFDL case, and there is no reason why they would be acceptable for
>
> If Linux Distributions would not distribute bastardized versions of cdrecord,
> there was no need to add the statements you might be talking about.

Sorry, but you say your software is free. That means Debian (or anyone
else) is free to bastardize cdrecord as much as they want. That is
called freedom.

You can require proper notice or even a name change of the software
when such "bastardization" is done but when you start forbiding such
changes then your software is no longer free.


Specifically in cdrecord you write:

         * Begin restricted code for quality assurance.
         *
         * Warning: you are not allowed to modify or to remove the
         * Copyright and version printing code below!
         * See also GPL <A7> 2 subclause c)

GPL 2c:
    c) If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
    when run, you must cause it, when started running for such
    interactive use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an
    announcement including an appropriate copyright notice and a
    notice that there is no warranty (or else, saying that you provide
    a warranty) and that users may redistribute the program under
    these conditions, and telling the user how to view a copy of this
    License.  (Exception: if the Program itself is interactive but
    does not normally print such an announcement, your work based on
    the Program is not required to print an announcement.)

'IF THE MODIFIED PROGRAM NORMALLY READS COMMANDS INTERACTIVELY WHEN RUN...'

Where does the original or any modified cdrecord run interactively?
This section just does not apply to cdrecrod. In accordance to that I
can just remove your copyright printing in cdrecord since it is not
interactive.


         * If you modify cdrecord you need to include additional version
         * printing code that:
         *...

Too bad the printing code itself can be removed completly anyway
sparing the user the anoying text. You demand that I write additional
code here, that might be totaly unsuitable for my use, severly limits
my freedom to use the source. That is not covered by the GPL, not in
2c as you claim at all.

So even though your intentions are fine your wording is not.

MfG
        Goswin