Re: pygaim license terms not present in source

[Michael Spang <mike@utgard.net>]

Don Armstrong wrote:
> On Sat, 03 Jun 2006, Michael Spang wrote:
>   
> > I have created a package [0] for PyGaim. Their SourceForge project
> > page says that PyGaim is distributed under the GPL. There is no
> > mention of this, however, in the source release.
> >     
> This is a bug; whether it would preclude distributing it in Debian is
> a bit questionable, but they should definetly be following the
> instructions given in the GPL for releasing a work under the GPL.
>   
I am hoping to have the "questionable" part resolved here on 
debian-legal. I did point them to those guidelines so hopefully the next 
release will properly document the copyright and license.
> > I have asked them to include a COPYING or LICENSE file in their next
> > release through their mailing list [2] and through two of the
> > developer's emails, but they did not respond.
> >     
> This is actually slightly more worrying than the copyright issues, as
> you've got a non-responsive upstream; I'd be concerned more about that
> and the possibility of having to support this package unless they get
> back to you. [But you probably already knew that.]
>   
Indeed, it is concerning that the three developers that run this project 
seem to have evaporated. Their latest release was made last December, 
and last communication from one of the developers on their forum was 
made in January. At this point I am still willing to move forward with 
the package; I think it would be a valuable addition to Debian. If any 
issues arise, I may as you say end up having to deal with them myself.  

Thanks!
Michael Spang