Re: Fw: gnuplot, is it free?
Hello,
On Dec/21/2006, Jordi Gutierrez Hermoso wrote:
> On 21/12/06, Carles Pina i Estany <carles@pina.cat> wrote:
> >It is not possible to distribute new versions of gnuplot (only original
> >source code and patches), etc.
>
> According to the 4th DFSG:
>
> Integrity of The Author's Source Code
>
> The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in
> modified form _only_ if the license allows the distribution of
> "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying
> the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit
> distribution of software built from modified source code. The
> license may require derived works to carry a different name or
> version number from the original software. (This is a
> compromise. The Debian group encourages all authors not to
> restrict any files, source or binary, from being modified.)
>
> so patch files are ok. The IceWeasel fork is another example of this
> ("... derived works to carry a different name...").
I don't know exactly know about IceWeasel, but in gnuplot license:
--------------
* Permission to distribute the released version of the source code along
* with corresponding source modifications in the form of a patch file is
* granted with same provisions 2 through 4 for binary distributions.
--------------
and for example, number 3 is:
---------------
* 3. provide your name and address as the primary contact for the
* support of your modified version, and
---------------
If I execute gnuplot --help I would expect "gnuplot 4.0 with Debian patches,
contact to Debian for support with this gnuplot bla bla bla"
What I get is:
for X11 options see 'help X11->command-line-options'
-V, --version
-h, --help
gnuplot 4.0 patchlevel 0
Report bugs to gnuplot-bugs@lists.sourceforge.net
So it seems that:
-Debian is distributing a binary-modified gnuplot (there is some patches
applied to original gnuplot)
-gnuplot license says that, if somebody distributes a new version of gnuplot,
has to clearly alert about it
-Debian is not alerting about it
I don't know a lot about license. I am quite sure that the problem is "between
the chair and the computer" (so, I am the problem, not in Debian or gnuplot).
But just to know.
Ah yes, I am a happy user of gnuplot :-)
--
Carles Pina i Estany GPG id: 0x8CBDAE64
http://pinux.info Manresa - Barcelona
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