Re: shc -- #335278 broken packaging -- non-DD NMU prepared
On Wednesday 28 June 2006 01:58, Alexander Schmehl wrote:
> Let's start with something simple:
> - According to the header, the script "match" was workexp@csc.liv.ac.uk.
> It has no explicit license, but is so easy and short, that I don't
> think one could claim copyright for that (the german word for that
> would be "Schöpfungshöhe"). I don't think the missing license of that
> script is a problem, but the author should be mentioned in the
> copyright file.
Done.
> - Now the real problem: shc.c
>
> Lookit at it we have:
>
> /**
> * This software contains the 'Alleged RC4' source code.
> * The original source code was published on the Net by a group of
> cypherpunks. * I picked up a modified version from the news.
> * The copyright notice does not apply to that code.
> */
>
> and:
>
> /**
> * 'Alleged RC4' Source Code picked up from the news."
> * From: allen@gateway.grumman.com (John L. Allen)"
> * Newsgroups: comp.lang.c"
> * Subject: Shrink this C code for fame and fun"
> * Date: 21 May 1996 10:49:37 -0400"
> */
>
> This post can be found at [1].
>
>
> Well... no license for this code, no implicit or explicit grant of any
> rights... not even an "make whatever you want with this code". I don't
> think we can distribute this, and I don't think this bug is fixed yet ;)
>
> You mentioned you allready mailed upstream, but has anyone tried to
> contact the original poster of that code? Ask him, if he put his code
> to public domain when posting it to that newsgroup or if he could
> license it under GPL. That would the solve the problem and everything
> would be fine.
Seems that Northrop Grumman's corporate mail server does not remember the guy
in question:
----- Transcript of session follows -----
... while talking to gateway.grumman.com.:
>>> DATA
<<< 550 5.0.0 <allen@gateway.grumman.com>... We do not accept mail from
spammers.
550 5.1.1 <allen@gateway.grumman.com>... User unknown
<<< 503 5.0.0 Need RCPT (recipient)
Now what ... wait for 20 (?) years in hope that nobody will claim a copyright
for that piece of code so that we can have it in PD ?
--
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fingerprint 1AE7 7C66 0A26 5BFF DF22 5D55 1C57 0C89 0E4B D0AB
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