Draft DFSG version #6
Well, the mantra is "Release Early, Release Often" right? Here goes...
The original draft of the DFSG was blatently executable and related only. After
researching the topic (with urls provided by Jules) I decided to *try* to make a
few modifications to cover everything. Please give me contructive feedback on
it's working.
>From what I can tell, the only real issues were "modifications" and
"derivations". Some people were in favor of restrictiong one or both of those
points with "non-executable" software. The general consesus (read: not
everybody agreed but most felt they could live with) seems to be spelled out in
the new "exceptions" section. Please feel free to clarify.
--------------------------------- Start Draft ----------------------------------
Debian Free Software Guidelines
-------------------------------
Anthony Towns <ajt@debian.org>
Darren Benham <gecko@debian.org>
draft version 2.6.2 9 February 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Notice
----------------
copyright ©1999 Anthony Towns & Darren Benham
This document is free software; you may redistribute it verbatim in
any format. You may modify this document and redistribute it in any
form so long as you change the title of this document. You may use
parts of this document for any purpose.
This is distributed _without any warranty_; without even the implied
warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
This document, in it's source form, exists in DebianDoc format.
_Parts marked like this are notes and questions and not part of the
actual document. They will be removed in the final work._
<Parts marked like this are rationals, explanations and examples. They
will remain as part of the actual document. They are to enhance and
clarify the original text, not replace>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents
--------
1. Introduction
1.1. Application
2. Freedoms
2.1. Use
2.2. Source Code
2.3. Modification and Derivation
2.4. Distribution
2.5. Termination of License
3. Restrictions
3.1. Notices of Authorship
3.2. Misrepresentation of Authors
3.3. License of Derived Works (deprecated)
3.4. Restrictions on charges (deprecated)
3.5. Availability of source code
3.6. Integrity of the Original Work
4. Exceptions
4.1. Modification
4.2. _Notes_
5. Notes <This section, "Notes" is an explanation section to
help clarify the above document. It should not contain
anything that's not above and the document above should be
able to stand on it's own without the "notes" section>
5.1. Deprecated
5.2. Non-binding Requests
5.3. Weaker Restrictions
5.4. Example Licenses
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Introduction
----------------
The Debian Free Software Guidelines define what it means for software
to be free as far as the Debian project is concerned. Software that
follows these guidelines is termed "DFSG-free".
These guidelines are separated into three sections: a list of freedoms
we require of DFSG-free software and a list of restrictions on those
freedoms that we are willing to accept and a list of exceptions we'll
accept on certain forms of software.
1.1. Application
----------------
These guidelines are intended to be applied to computer files in any
form.
<This includes documentation, documents, graphics, scripts, binary
executables, data and licenses.>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Freedoms
------------
2.1. Use
---------
Anyone must be able to use the software in any way without paying a
fee or royalty or performing any special actions.
<This does not prohibit the author from asking for donations as long
as the donations are completely voluntary.>
_I think this line would prohibit "button-ware."_
_Not specifically part of the old DFSG_
2.2. Source Code
-----------------
Source code must be freely available if it exists. Source code refers
to the form used to make changes to the software.
<It is possible for the executable and source to be the same. For
example: a jpg image or a text file.>
_Old DFSG point 2_
2.3. Modification and Derivation
---------------------------------
Anyone must be able to modify the software or use parts of the
software in their own work.
_part of old DFSG point 3_
2.4. Distribution
------------------
Anyone must be able to give away or sell copies of the software and
sources without paying a fee or royalty. However, nobody can be
required to distribute the software.
_Old DFSG point 1. Also part of Old DFSG point 5 & 6 unless you think
the DFSG needs a phrase like "does not discriminate" instead of
"anyone". Point 8 could also be part of this but this phrase would
cover more than just Debian. For example, under the old DFSG, software
could bar Red Hat from distributing it and still be DFSG (at least as
far as point 8.)_
2.5. Termination of License
----------------------------
The license must remain valid until the licensee terminates it or
violates the terms of the license.
_Not part of the old DFSG_
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Restrictions
----------------
3.1. Notices of Authorship
---------------------------
The license may require the copyright, license, and any associated
disclaimers be prominently displayed in the modified software or any
derived software. The license may require such notices to be
displayed: (in order of preference)
* wherever the modified/derived software displays copyrights
* in the source code or documentation
* in advertising materials (deprecated)
* during execution of interactive software
_Not part of the old DFSG_
3.2. Misrepresentation of Authors
----------------------------------
The license may restrict the use of names and trademarks of the
copyright holders in association with modifications of the original
software.
_Not part of the old DFSG_
3.3. License of Derived Works (deprecated)
-------------------------------------------
The license can impose license requirements on modified and derived
software as long as the result sill meets these guidelines.
_Also part of old DFSG point 7_
The license can impose license restrictions on the third party
components (such as libraries) necessary to compile the software as
long as the restrictions are compatible with the original license.
The license my not impose restrictions on third-party software that
merely resides on the same system or distribution as the licensed
software.
3.4. Restrictions on charges (deprecated)
------------------------------------------
The license can restrict the amount charged for the software if
reasonable distribution fees are allowed. It may not place
restrictions on either fees charged for other software in a
distribution or the cost of a distribution as a whole.
3.5. Availability of source code
---------------------------------
The license may require that distributors make a reasonable effort to
provide source code of versions of the software they distribute.
_Not specifically part of the old DFSG_
3.6. Integrity of the Original Work
------------------------------------
The license may use any of the following methods to ensure the
integrity of the original work:
_Old DFSG point 4_
3.6.1. Change log
------------------
A summary of modifications made to the software may be required in:
* the source code of the modified software.
* documentation accompanying the modified software.
_I removed this. Is there any license that requires this that we want
to remain DFSG-free? "the display when the software is executed (for
interactive programs)"_
_Is there anywhere else they could be summarized that we'd accept?_
3.6.2. Versioning and Renaming
-------------------------------
Modified software may be required to use a version number or name
different from the official release.
3.6.3. Concurrent Installation (deprecated)
--------------------------------------------
Modified software may be required to be able to exist on the same
system as the official release of the software.
_For example by requiring derived works to use different names for
configuration files and data files as well as executables._
3.6.4. Original source (deprecated)
------------------------------------
Distribution of modified software may be required to be accompanied by
an offer to distribute the original source code.
3.6.5. Patch clause (deprecated)
---------------------------------
Source level modifications may be required to be distributed as the
original source with a list of differences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Exceptions
--------------
4.1. Modification
------------------
4.1.1. Exception
----------------
Anyone must be able to use parts of the software in their own work but
the license can prohibit modification.
4.1.2. Types
------------
The exceptions in this list apply only to personal opinions and
standards documents and license. Use of this exception is not
encourage by the Debian Project.
_And... anything else? This is just off the top of my head_
To be clear, this does *not* apply to works of art, documentation,
executables, source code (put more here).
4.2. _Notes_
------------
_To go along with this, Policy would be changed to create a verbatim
section. Into this section would go any software that makes use of
this exception. Also, any license that is DFSG but the text of the
license itself is not can be put into this section._
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Notes <This section, "Notes" is an explanation section to help clarify
the above document. It should not contain anything that's not above and the
document above should be able to stand on it's own without the "notes"
section>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.1. Deprecated
----------------
By deprecated, we mean this is allowed but discourage and disliked.
These items may be done away with in future versions. Also, software
without deprecated clauses is recommended over software that has
licenses with such clauses.
5.2. Non-binding Requests
--------------------------
The license may make any number of non-binding requests. These should
be clearly separated from the binding section of the license.
5.3. Weaker Restrictions
-------------------------
The license may restrict the freedoms with less restrictive versions
of the restrictions listed here.
5.4. Example Licenses
----------------------
As examples, we consider the following licenses DFSG-free:
* the MIT/X Consortium License
* the Artistic License
* the GNU General Public License v2 (GPL)
* the GNU Library General Public License v2 (LGPL)
* the BSD License
* the Mozilla Public License v1.0 (MPL)
* the Q Public License v0.92 (QPL)
_This list is a list of possibilities. Before the document would be
released, the list would be modified to mention the licenses that
truly do fit_
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debian Free Software Guidelines
Anthony Towns <ajt@debian.org>
Darren Benham <gecko@debian.org>
draft version 2.6.2 9 February 1999
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