Re: source code written by monkey
Hi Philipp,
On Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:38:51 +0200 Philipp Hübner wrote:
> I've packaged the program btnx [0], but my prospecitve sponsor
> encountered a license problem:
> in btnx's source there is one file which was not written by btnx's
> upstream itself (revoco.c).
>
> Debian policy:
> "Note that under international copyright law (this applies in the United
> States, too), no distribution or modification of a work is allowed
> without an explicit notice saying so."
>
> The actual author of this file (Edgar Toernig) refused to put any
> copyrights / licenses on it and claims that his monkey has written it,
> because international copyright law does not apply to animals' works.
> This way he wants to make is code completely free.
>
>
> In revoco.c he states:
> * Written November 2006 by E. Toernig's bonobo - no copyrights.
> * Contact: Edgar Toernig <froese@gmx.de>
>
>
> In btnx.c upstream states:
> /*------------------------------------------------------------------------*
> * File revoco.c has no copyrights (it was written by an animal), and is
> * not bound by the GNU GPL.
> * However, it is still distributed and modified by the blessing of its
> * original author. See revoco.c for contact info of the author.
> *------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
>
>
>
> My questions now: how shall I proceed?
> Edgar Toernig stays with his statement, I already asked him.
I tried to ask Edgar too, and once also uploaded revoco to NEW.
Joerg has REJECTED it, with the following statement:
--
From: Joerg Jaspert <ftpmaster@debian.org>
To: Evgeni Golov <sargentd@die-welt.net>
Cc: Debian Installer <installer@ftp-master.debian.org>
Subject: revoco_0.4-1_i386.changes REJECTED
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:43:43 +0000
Sender: Joerg Jaspert <joerg@ries.debian.org>
Hi Maintainer,
rejected, but sorry, the copyright situation isnt so that we want to
include it in main.
Upstream is lying with "I havent written it, my bonobo has",
second he is german and he cant disclaim all rights on it. If he really
wants to make it free he should chose the BSD or MIT license, that seems
to be what he wants. Otherwise its not distributable at all.
--
I gave up revoco then, if you have time, you can try larting Edgar, but
I doubt that will help.
Regards
Evgeni, still happy with his logitech mouse.
Reply to: