Re: gnuplot, is it free?
"Carles Pina i Estany" <carles@pina.cat> wrote in message
[🔎] 20061221163531.GA4705@pinux.info">news:[🔎] 20061221163531.GA4705@pinux.info...
Hello,
Gnuplot has a non-common license:
http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/g/gnuplot/gnuplot_4.0.0-5/gnuplot.copyright
It says: It is obligatory to add oneself (e.g. Debian) as primary
contact if you distribute modified binaries, but in Gnuplot Debian
package the primary contact is upstream.
It is not possible to distribute new versions of gnuplot (only original
source code and patches), etc.
Should be gnuplot included in Debian, with this license?
Thanks!
Well Let's look at it.
/*[
* Copyright 1986 - 1993, 1998 Thomas Williams, Colin Kelley
*
* Permission to use, copy, and distribute this software and its
* documentation for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted,
* provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and
* that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear
* in supporting documentation.
I'm fairly sure that is good. The supporting documentation clause can be a
pain,
but I'm not sure i rember anybody arguing that it is non free.
* Permission to modify the software is granted, but not the right to
* distribute the complete modified source code. Modifications are to
* be distributed as patches to the released version.
We allow this, but it is inconvient. DFSG #4
Permission to
* distribute binaries produced by compiling modified sources is granted,
* provided you
* 1. distribute the corresponding source modifications from the
* released version in the form of a patch file along with the binaries,
This could be problematic. Would this require that the patches be shipped
in the binary packages? Or would shipping the source package (which includes
the patches as required below)
be sufficient? I think the former may be non-free, but the latter is free.
I'm also
thinking the latter is what is meant.
* 2. add special version identification to distinguish your version
* in addition to the base release version number,
once again allowed by DFSG #4
* 3. provide your name and address as the primary contact for the
* support of your modified version, and
This one could be free, but there has been some debate over similar clauses.
I'm thinking this is acceptable
* 4. retain our contact information in regard to use of the base
* software.
That is fine.
* Permission to distribute the released version of the source code along
* with corresponding source modifications in the form of a patch file is
* granted with same provisions 2 through 4 for binary distributions.
This works, but any problems caused by sections 2 through 4 apply here as
well.
* This software is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty
* to the extent permitted by applicable law.
That is fine
To me it looks free, but the Debian maintainer
must be listed as the primary contact.
Of course others could disagree.
IANAL, IANADD
Complete licence text:
/*[
>* Copyright 1986 - 1993, 1998 Thomas Williams, Colin Kelley
>*
>* Permission to use, copy, and distribute this software and its
>* documentation for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted,
>* provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and
>* that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear
>* in supporting documentation.
>*
>* Permission to modify the software is granted, but not the right to
>* distribute the complete modified source code. Modifications are to
>* be distributed as patches to the released version. Permission to
>* distribute binaries produced by compiling modified sources is granted,
>* provided you
>* 1. distribute the corresponding source modifications from the
>* released version in the form of a patch file along with the binaries,
>* 2. add special version identification to distinguish your version
>* in addition to the base release version number,
>* 3. provide your name and address as the primary contact for the
>* support of your modified version, and
>* 4. retain our contact information in regard to use of the base
>* software.
>* Permission to distribute the released version of the source code along
>* with corresponding source modifications in the form of a patch file is
>* granted with same provisions 2 through 4 for binary distributions.
>*
>* This software is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty
>* to the extent permitted by applicable law.
]*/
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