Re: RFP: gtybalt -- computer algebra system (CAS) based on GiNaC with optional TeXmacs GUI

[Glenn Maynard <glenn@zewt.org>]

On Fri, Jan 21, 2005 at 12:24:27AM +0000, Matthew Garrett wrote:
> > (3) seems to fail the Dissident test.
> 
> It clearly fails the dissident test, but since that's not clearly
> embodied in the DFSG it's up to the maintainer to decide whether or not
> it's a problem.

Yes, it is.  "The license must allow modifications and derived works" does
not mean "... but may require onerous restrictions at the whim of the
licensor".  "may not restrict any party from selling or giving away the
software" does not mean "may not restrict any party, and yet may restrict
in any way, any party ...".  (Such an interpretation would render DFSG#1
and #3 almost no-ops.)  This is just as clearly represented in the DFSG as
"modifications are allowed provided you pet a cat".  There may be disagreement
as to whether Dissident-related clauses are onerous enough to cause a license
to be non-free, but there's no question that it's very clearly tied to the
DFSG.

-- 
Glenn Maynard