Re: Packaging arc
On Thu, 4 Sep 2003, Klaus Reimer wrote:
> I'm interested in packaging the File Archive Utility "arc". I'm not sure if
> there is an official "owner" any more. A current source code (Last change in
> 1991) can be found at various locations on the net, i.e. in the FreeBSD
> project:
>
> http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/pds.cgi?ports/archivers/arc
>
> My problem is this sentence in the Non-Free-license of arc:
>
> 2) ARC may ONLY be distributed in its original,
> unmodified state.
>
> But I have to modify the source to fix a Y2K error and to do some
> adjustments to allow compiling on linux. Is there any chance to do these
> modifications and distribute the package in binary form in the non-free
> distribution of Debian? Or is the only chance to distribute it at all to
> build a "source package" with the original source code and a build-script in
> it?
I found this little gem (inside C comments) in the source code for
this program:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may copy and distribute this program freely, provided that:
1) No fee is charged for such copying and distribution, and
2) It is distributed ONLY in its original, unmodified state.
If you like this program, and find it of use, then your contribution will
be appreciated. You may not use this product in a commercial environment
or a governmental organization without paying a license fee of $35. Site
licenses and commercial distribution licenses are available. A program
disk and printed documentation are available for $50.
If you fail to abide by the terms of this license, then your conscience
will haunt you for the rest of your life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This may only be packaged in source-only form, but even in such case,
putting this in the debian FTP would be risky for those who download it,
they could be violating the license without being aware of it.
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