On Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:50:51 +0200 Philipp Hübner wrote: > Hello, > > I would like to know if TrueCrypt 6 would be accepted for non-free. > > I know there have already been 2 threads about the TrueCrypt License: > http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/06/msg00294.html > http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2008/01/msg00122.html > > > The actual TrueCrypt Licensen Version 2.5 is available at > http://www.truecrypt.org/legal/license which I have pasted for possible > reference. Thanks for quoting the full license text. I don't have enough time for a detailed analysis, unfortunately. A first glance at a wdiff between version 1.2 and version 2.5 of the license shows that, a part from cosmetic changes, things haven't improved much. On the contrary, it seems that the license has become more and more restrictive. Two new restrictions I noticed are the following ones. | V. Trademarks | [...] | Any attempt otherwise to use trademarks associated with | (or applying to) This Product automatically and immediately terminates | Your rights under This License and may constitute trademark infringement | (which may be prosecuted). Trademark infringement terminates all rights under the license. | VI. General Terms and Conditions, Miscellaneous Provisions [...] | 4. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, You may allow a | third party to use Your copy of This Product (or a copy that you make | and distribute, or Your Product, or respective parts thereof) provided | that the third party overtly accepts and agrees to be bound by all terms | and conditions of this License and the third party is not prohibited | from using This Product (or portions thereof) by this License (see, | e.g., Section VI.6) or by applicable law. However, You are not obligated | to ensure that the third party accepts (and agrees to be bound by all | terms of) this License if You distribute only the self-extracting | package (containing This Product) that does not allow the user to | install (nor extract) the files contained in the package until he or she | accepts and agrees to be bound by all terms and conditions of this License. You are forced to make sure people who receive a copy from you agree to be bound by the license, possibly through a click-wrap mechanism. This is not only non-free, but a practical issue as well. With respect to the issues I spotted in version 1.2 (http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2008/01/msg00136.html), the only thing I saw improved is the vanishing of the Dr B R Gladman's twofish implementation license... > > I'm sure that TrueCrypt would not be accepted for Debian (main), but is > it alright for non-free? I am not sure, the click-wrap obligations could be a practical issue, even for non-free... Anyway, I am not overly interested in checking whether something can be shipped in non-free: I'll wait for others to express their opinion. [...] > Please don't suggest to hint the TrueCrypt guys towards relicensing, > that won't help me (although that would be the best). Their "let's restrict it a bit more" trend is not promising at all... :-( Usual disclaimers: IANAL, TINLA, IANADD, TINASOTODP. -- http://frx.netsons.org/doc/index.html#nanodocs The nano-document series is here! ..................................................... Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4
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