[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

C-Kermit license

Hello, I'd been talking about C-Kermit license with the HPTalx upstream
mantainer and I explained him, that C-Kermit license is a non-free license
from a DFSG point of view because the Clause (A), don't let modification of
the source code without the consent of the Kermit Project (Columbia
University) and the fourth paragraph of the DFSG don't let it in this way. 

I would like someone confirm me this reasoning, thank you.
-- 
Javier Viñuales Gutiérrez <vigu@matrio.com>
GnuPG public information:      pub  1024D/4EB82468
1C2A 0241 D350 B43D E027  4FCD F8E8 3454 4EB8 2468
--- Begin Message --- 
On vie, mar 09, 2001 at 10:25:24 -0300, Bruno Barberi Gnecco wrote:
> 	I was taking a look at the kermit license, and it allows the 
> distribution "with "free" operating systems such as GNU/Linux". Take
> a look:
> 
> ftp://kermit.columbia.edu/kermit/f/COPYING.TXT

Hello Bruno,

This license is a non-free licende from the Debian Free Software Guidelines
(DFSG, http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines) point of view if 
you read the fourth paragraph:

  4. 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 to not restrict any
     files, source or binary, from being modified.)
     
The Clause (A) of the C-KERMIT 7.0 license says:

 (A) The C-Kermit software, in source and/or binary form, may be
     included WITHOUT EXPLICIT LICENSE in distributions of OPERATING
     SYSTEMS that have OSI (Open Source Initiative, www.opensource.org)
     approved licenses, even if non-Open-Source applications (but not 
     operating systems) are included in the same distribution.  Such
     distributions include, but are not limited to, CD-ROM, FTP site,
     Web site, or preinstalled software on a new GENERAL-PURPOSE
     computer, as long as the primary character of the distribution is
     an Open Source operating system with accompanying utilities.  The
                                                                   ~~~
     C-Kermit source code may not be changed without the consent
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     of the Kermit Project, which will not be unreasonably withheld
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     (this is simply a matter of keeping a consistent and supportable
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     code base).
     ~~~~~~~~~~

I think the last point of Clause (A) it's a concept error from Columbia
University about the "Open Source" vs "Free Software" definitions and there
isn't any reason to do it in this way. I'll talk with the Debian Developers
about it.

Cheers
-- 
Javier Viñuales Gutiérrez <vigu@matrio.com>
GnuPG public information:      pub  1024D/4EB82468
1C2A 0241 D350 B43D E027  4FCD F8E8 3454 4EB8 2468

--- End Message ---
Reply to: