Re: Serious problem with geoip - databases could not be build from source
Hi Bjørn!
On Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:09:35 +0200, Bjørn Mork <bjorn@mork.no> wrote:
>> Somebody would help me contacting and convincing the RIRs about
>> a free geoIP database?
> I believe such usage can be considered within the RIRs AUPs, provided
> that you follow their guidelines for bulk downloads and only
> redistribute a small subset of the data (i.e. only the country attribute
> of the inetnum objects).
>
> You are aware of the GPLv3 licensed database at
> http://software77.net/geo-ip/ ?
>
> This database is used by Geo::IPfree, and probably other applications
> already part of Debian.
There is another geo-ip db packaged in Debian -- tor-geoipdb (used by
Tor).
But the problem described in the original mail is that it's unknown
how to derive binary data file from source data, not absence of free
data. So available alternatives will not help here.
But looking into all this led to a bunch of questions for
debian-legal.
1. maxmind. Web page[1] show that C code is under LGPL but data files
are under Open Data License (BSD-like + fixed text acknowledgment --
slightly non-free?). However Debian copyright file lists only LGPL.
Patrick, is it an informed decision or a bug?
2. tor-geoipdb. First, license[1] is not very clean and also contains
fixed text acknowledgment -- is it free? Second, "Some parts of the
IP-to-Country Database are derived from APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and RIPE
databases whose copyright details are given below" and lack free
licenses. Undistributable?
Debian copyright file doesn't include "RIR Licenses" part for some
reason.
3. http://software77.net/geo-ip/ . How is it possible for their data
to be licensed under GPL when the data seems to come directly from
RIRs?
4. Does RIRs have any copyright on their data to start with?
Alexander Cherepanov
[1] http://geolite.maxmind.com/download/geoip/database/LICENSE.txt
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There are two licenses, one for the C library software, and one for
the database.
SOFTWARE LICENSE (C library)
The GeoIP C Library is licensed under the LGPL. For details see
the COPYING file.
OPEN DATA LICENSE (GeoLite Country and GeoLite City databases)
Copyright (c) 2008 MaxMind, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
All advertising materials and documentation mentioning features or use of
this database must display the following acknowledgment:
"This product includes GeoLite data created by MaxMind, available from
http://maxmind.com/"
Redistribution and use with or without modification, are permitted provided
that the following conditions are met:
1. Redistributions must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
materials provided with the distribution.
2. All advertising materials and documentation mentioning features or use of
this database must display the following acknowledgement:
"This product includes GeoLite data created by MaxMind, available from
http://maxmind.com/"
3. "MaxMind" may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
database without specific prior written permission.
THIS DATABASE IS PROVIDED BY MAXMIND, INC ``AS IS'' AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL MAXMIND BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
DATABASE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[2] lynx -dump -nolist http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/book/print/62
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IP-to-Country Database License
Copyright (c) 2003 Direct Information Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
All usage, reproduction, modification and derivative works created
from, and distribution and publication of the IP-to-Country Database
and your derivative works thereof must keep intact all copyright
notices and give credit by displaying the following acknowledgment by
replacing 'work' with one of the following: script, product, page,
service or application:
"This 'work' uses the IP-to-Country Database
provided by WebHosting.Info (http://www.webhosting.info),
available from http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info."
BECAUSE THE DATABASE IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY
FOR THE DATABASE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT
WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER
PARTIES PROVIDE THE DATABASE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE OR ANY WARRANTIES REGARDING THE CONTENTS OR ACCURACY OF THE
WORK.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING
WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR
REDISTRIBUTE THE DATABASE AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR
DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE DATABASE, EVEN
IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.
RIR Licenses
Some parts of the IP-to-Country Database are derived from APNIC, ARIN,
LACNIC and RIPE databases whose copyright details are given below:
APNIC CONDITIONS OF USE:
The files are freely available for download and use on the
condition that APNIC will not be held responsible for any loss or
damage arising from the application of the information contained
in these reports.
APNIC endeavours to the best of its ability to ensure the accuracy
of these reports; however, APNIC makes no guarantee in this
regard.
In particular, it should be noted that these reports seek to
indicate the country where resources were first allocated or
assigned. It is not intended that these reports be considered as
an authoritative statement of the location in which any specific
resource may currently be in use.
ARIN database copyright:
Copyright (c) American Registry for Internet Numbers. All rights
reserved.
RIPE database copyright:
Copyright (c) by RIPE NCC
Restricted rights.
Except for agreed Internet operational purposes, no part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the RIPE NCC
on behalf of the copyright holders. Any use of this material to
target advertising or similar activities is explicitly forbidden
and may be prosecuted. The RIPE NCC requests to be notified of any
such activities or suspicions thereof.
LACNIC database copyright:
Copyright (c) LACNIC
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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