Linuxsampler license
Hello,
Linuxsampler is packaged in debian unstable.
It would seem to me that Linuxsampler currently is not compatible with
DFSG. I hope the readers of this mailing list have more information
about this kind of a problem and how to address it with the authors of
the software and also with debian.
Also it seems to me that Linuxsampler's authors wouldn't be allowed to
make the kind of a restriction to the GPL as they do.
The problem is that the README in linuxsampler says the following thing:
"This software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (see
COPYING file), and may not be used in commercial applications without
asking the authors for permission."
The debian copyright-file only says:
"This software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (see
COPYING file), and may not be used in commercial applications without
asking the authors for permission."
In summary, I think there is a conflict between the copyright statement
in the debian package and the copyright statement in the upstream
linuxsampler readme (copyright statement). Debian package maintainer
shouldn't have removed the part of the copyright/license statement that
made the additional restrictions.
Also there seems to be a conflict between the GPL and the Linuxsampler's
way to add restrictions. I don't think you are allowed to use GPL and
make additional restrictions to it.
I don't think the upstream version would be DFSG if the restrictions
would apply.
In addition there's a conflict between linuxsampler's aim to be an
opensource software, and the license used. Restricting commercial use
makes the software nonopensource by OSI definition and nonfree by Free
Software Foundation's Free Software definition.
"The goal is to produce a free, open source pure software audio sampler
with professional grade features."
<http://www.linuxsampler.org/about.html>
<http://www.linuxsampler.org/about.html> #6
<http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html>
Yours,
Harri Järvi
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