Re: Bug#660266: Failed to download 1rott13.zip

[Fabian Greffrath <fabian@greffrath.com>]

Hi Paul,

Am 26.02.2012 01:03, schrieb Paul Wise:
> If the rott data is distributable by Debian, why isn't it being
> packaged in non-free?
>
> If the rott data is not distributable in non-free, what makes it
> distributable from alioth?

I believe this is due to the absurd shareware license that applies for 
the shareware zip file. Citing the first two paragraphs from the 
accompanying VENDOR.DOC file:

---8<---

[*] If you want to distribute it in a retail location (such as
    on a rack), or as part of a hardware or software bundle, or
    on CD-ROM you must get PRIOR signed written permission from
    Apogee.  Apogee reserves its right to withhold permission.

[*] Everyone can -- and is encouraged! -- to copy, upload and
    generally pass around this Program without charging for it.

--->8---

So if you consider the Debian distribution as a "software bundle" then 
it is not OK to include it, but is it OK to upload it anywhere at will. :/

Since I am not going to discuss this interpretation with my lawyer, I 
think we should play safe and it is reasonable to only host the zip 
file (which is explicitely allowed) and let the users do the rest 
themselves on their computers. ;)

Remember, this is from 1998 and ROTT is a DOS game. The concept of 
Linux distributions wasn't that popular back then. ;)

Cheers,
Fabian