Re: rsaeuro license change?
--On 08 August 2002 00:18 -0400 Brian Ristuccia <brianr@debian.org> wrote:
Hi, thanks for your mail. We would be interested in working something out
to allow the Internet release of RSAEuro to be included with Debian.
I'd like to package RSAEURO 1.04i for inclusion in Debian GNU/Linux, but
there are provisions in the license grant which are incompatible with the
Debian Free Software Guidelines. See
<http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines>. Unless a few small
changes are made to the license, I won't be able to package the software.
It would be appreciated if you could review the license and let me know
if an accomidation can be made.
I think we could review and amend the license to keep with our requirements
to maintain our rights and make the license in keeping with the Debian
movement. Reaper Technologies now handles development and management of
RSAEuro licensing.
Offhand, I can see two incomatibilities in the license. The first is in
Item 1, (iii), which reads in part "...provided that you provide
J.S.A.Kapp with a copy of any such modification or Application Program by
electronic mail..." If J.S.A.Kapp ceases to exist as an entity or stops
accepting email, then newly modified versions of rsaeuro become
undistributable. Also, if the changes are frequent or substantial or the
mail message must travel over a very slow or expensive connection, the
requirement may represent an undue burden on the person making
modifications. Such a license term is incompatible with our first Free
Software guideline, which requires that free distribution be permitted.
This looks relatively straight forward to work around. Bare in mind this
release of RSAEuro part of a more current Commercial product. We would
like to have RSAEuro distributed with a product such as Debian however we
would like to maintain some control over 'major' changes that could reflect
on the commercial product especially compatibility.
The second problem is in Item 2, (ii,iii, and v), which restricts those
who may wish to use the software for profit. These restrictions render the
license incompatible with Free Software guideline 6, which prohibits
discrimination against fields of endeavour.
This element is a tricky one however, as we've mentioned RSAEuro is also a
commercial product, the 1.04 release is often used by licensees as a
initial stepping stone into the commercial product, therefore preventing
them using RSAEuro in commercial applications maintains our business. Any
assistance on this point would be helpful.
Also are there any other points that would require looking at?
Regards
Stephen Kapp.
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RSAEuro: rsaeuro@reapertech.com
RSAEuro Bugs: rsaeuro-bugs@reapertech.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7900 2450
Fax: +44 (0) 7050 699951
Http: http://www.reapertech.com/
RSAEuro - Copyright (c) J.S.A.Kapp & Reaper Technologies 1994-2002.
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