On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 05:00:09 +0530 Shriramana Sharma wrote: [...] > I would like to know whether the Swiss Ephemeris Public Licence which > can be found at: > > ftp://astro.com/pub/swisseph/src/LICENSE I'm quoting the full license text below, for reference purposes. > > is GPL-compatible or not. That is, can I write a program based on this > library and GPL it? As I read it, it is GPL-compatible. I _don't_ think it's compatible with GPLv2. Clause 3 is a patch-only restriction, which is not a DFSG-freeness, but is GPL-incompatible (as already noted by Andrew Donnellan). [...] > I would really like to use this library (Swiss Ephemeris) but I have > to GPL my program since I use Qt OSS edition. I asked the people who > wrote and hence own the library whether I can GPL a program based on > their library but they said no "because it would allow commercial use > of the library which is not permitted by the SEPL". Again I feel they > have confused commercial software and proprietary software. That's really confusing. If they really mean commercial, then the GNU GPL v2 allows commercial use, but it seems the SEPL does as well... If they instead mean proprietary, then the GNU GPL v2 forbids proprietary use (in contrast to what they believe), while their SEPL is a far weaker defense against proprietary use... Puzzled. My suggestion is to contact them again: try and persuade them to relicense (or dual-license) the library under the GNU GPL v2. [...] > Also when a licence is GPL-compatible it is also automatically > DFSG-compatible, right? I would say so, yes. ====================== full license text follows ====================== THE SWISS EPHEMERIS PUBLIC LICENSE (SEPL) version 0.2 Copyright (C) 1998 Astrodienst AG, Switzerland. Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute this license document. This license applies to any software containing a notice placed by the copyright holder saying that it may be distributed under the terms of the SEPL version 0.2. Such software is herein referred to as the Swiss Ephemeris Software (SE). This license covers modification and distribution of the SE, use of third-party application programs based on the SE, and development of free software which uses the SE. Granted Rights 1. You are granted the rights set forth in this license provided you agree to any and all conditions in this license. Whole or partial distribution of the SE in any form signifies acceptance of this license. 2. You may copy and distribute the SE provided that the entire package is distributed, including this License. 3. You may make modifications to the SE files and distribute your modifications in a form distinct from the SE. The following restrictions apply to modifications: a. Modifications must not alter or remove any copyright notices in the SE. b. If modifications to the SE are released under this license, a non-exclusive right is granted to the holder of the copyright of the unmodified SE to distribute your modification in future versions of the SE provided such versions remain available under these terms in addition to any other license. 4. You may distribute machine-executable forms of the SE or machine-executable forms of modified versions of the SE, provided that you meet these restrictions: a. You accompany the SE with this license. b. You must ensure that all recipients of the machine-executable forms are also able to receive the complete machine-readable source code to the distributed SE, including all modifications, without any charge beyond the costs of data transfer. c. You ensure that all modifications included in the machine-executable forms are available under the terms of this license. 5. You may use the original or modified versions of the Swiss Ephemeris Software to compile, link and run application programs legally developed by you or third parties. 6. You may develop application programs, reusable components and other software items that link with the original or modified versions of the Swiss Ephemeris Software. These items, when distributed in machine-executable form, have the following restrictions: a. You must ensure that all recipients of machine-executable forms of these items are also able to receive and use the complete machine-readable source code to the items without any charge beyond the costs of data transfer. b. You must explicitly license all recipients of your items to use and re-distribute original and modified versions of the items in both machine-executable and source code forms under terms identical to those under which they received the items. 7. The trademarks 'Swiss Ephemeris' and 'Swiss Ephemeris inside' and the associated icons may be used for promoting software, products or services which use or contain the Swiss Ephemeris. The names of the authors of the Swiss Ephemeris Software and of the Copyright Holder may not be used to endorse or promote products or services derived from or linking to the Swiss Ephemeris Software without specific prior written permission. This license file and the copyright notices in the source files are the onlyplaces where the author's names may legally appear without specific prior written permission. Limitations of Liability In no event shall the authors of the Swiss Ephemeris Software or their employers be liable for any lost revenue or profits or other direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages. No Warranty The Swiss Ephemeris Software is provided AS IS with NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. -- http://frx.netsons.org/doc/nanodocs/etch_workstation_install.html Need to read a Debian etch installation walk-through? ..................................................... Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4
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