On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:02:28 +0000 Joe Nahmias wrote: > Hello -legal, > > I recently came across Knowledgetree which is a web-based document > management system. There is a (very old) version of it currently in > Debian that is licensed under the GPL2. However, it seems that newer > versions are licensed under what they call the KPL [ see > http://www.knowledgetree.com/KPL/KPL_License ] which is a derivative > of the MPL. Not a good start, as the MPL does *not* meet the DFSG, in my opinion, as well as in the opinion of other debian-legal regulars. Discussions about the MPL can be found at http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2004/06/msg00221.html http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/03/msg00551.html > > Of particular interest is the new Exhibit/Appendix B: > > > KnowledgeTree Public License 1.1.1 - Exihibit B > > > > Additional Terms applicable to the KnowledgeTree Public License. [...] > > However, in addition to the other notice obligations, all copies of > > the Covered Code in Executable and Source Code form distributed > > must, as a form of attribution of the original author, include on > > each user interface screen (i) the "KnowledgeTree Document > > Management Made Simple" logo and (ii) the copyright notice in the > > same form as the latest version of the Covered Code distributed by > > The Jam Warehouse Software (Pty) Ltd. at the time of distribution of > > such copy. In addition, the "KnowledgeTree Document Management Made > > Simple" logo must be visible to all users and be located at the top > > right-hand corner of each user interface screen, other than the user > > log-in page, on which it must be located at the top-center of the > > user log-in form. Notwithstanding the above, the dimensions of the > > "KnowledgeTree Document Management Made Simple" logo must be at > > least 200 x 40 pixels. When users click on the "KnowledgeTree > > Document Management Made Simple" logo it must direct them back to > > http://www.knowledgetree.com. In addition, the copyright notice must > > remain visible to all users at all times at the bottom of the user > > interface screen. When users click on the copyright notice, it must > > direct them back to http://www.knowledgetree.com These additional restrictions are definitely non-free, IMO, since they heavily limit the freedom to modify the interface (DFSG#3). Moreover, there's the possible contradiction issue pointed out by Michael Below in his reply, which could make the software undistributable (without a separate additional license for the logo)... > > This reads to my inexperienced eye as a particularly heavy-handed form > of the good old BSD advertising clause, Far worse than the obnoxious advertising clause, I would say... > which irrespective of anything > else would send this straight to non-free. > > I would like to approach upstream about modifying the licensing in > accordance with the DFSG. Not being very familiar with the MPL, aside > from this clause, what else do I need to address with them? My advice is try and persuade upstream to switch back to the GNU GPL v2, since fixing each MPL issue would be a too long and error-prone process. > > > Thanks in advance for your help. > --Joe You're welcome. The usual disclaimers: IANAL, IANADD. > > PS - Please cc me as I do not subscribe to -legal Done. -- http://frx.netsons.org/doc/nanodocs/testing_workstation_install.html Need to read a Debian testing installation walk-through? ..................................................... Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4
Attachment:
pgpxFcO3cbAaC.pgp
Description: PGP signature