Re: Bug#158320: ITP: cl-defsystem3 -- A system definition and building package for Common Lisp programs

[Walter Landry <wlandry@ucsd.edu>]

Kevin Rosenberg <kevin@rosenberg.net> wrote:
> Branden Robinson wrote:
> > > ;;; following conditions are met:
> > > ;;;      o distribution of a modification to the Software have been
> > > ;;;        previously submitted to the maintainers; if the maintainers
> > > ;;;        decide not to include the submitted changes, the "full
> > > ;;;        name" of the re-distributed Software ("MK:DEFSYSTEM", or
> > > ;;;        "MAKE:DEFSYSTEM", or "MK-DEFSYSTEM") must be changed.
> >
> > The above clause is not DFSG-free.  Prior notice of modifications is not
> > compatible with DFSG 3.  Also, in case it matters, this restriction
> > renders the software GPL-incompatible.
> > 
> > Followups redirected to the ITP bug number and debian-legal.
> 
> Thanks for forwarding to debian-legal. Is the violation #1 "free
> distribution"?  That the requirement to submit changes to the
> maintainers constitutes a restriction?

This is the problem.  What if the people making a change can not
contact the original author, because they live somewhere without
internet access?  If I make a modification, before I can give it to my
friend across the street, I have to contact the original authors.  And
wait for them to make a decision, no matter how long it takes.

> Also, is the requirement to change the name also non-DFSG
> compatible?

Requiring a name change is fine with the DFSG, although it would cause
GPL-compatibility problems.  I don't know if that matters.

Regards,
Walter Landry
wlandry@ucsd.edu