Bug#675762: I don't see the license violation here

[Bart Martens <bartm@debian.org>]

On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 10:11:59PM +0200, Rune Tendal Kock wrote:
> Most of the files in DJB's original tarball are marked "public
> domain".  There seems no doubt to me that DJB has in that way given
> permission to do anything to the files.

The text is clearly "You may distribute unmodified copies of the cdb package",
not "you may do anything to the files".

> 
> Were anyone else to write "You may distribute unmodified copies of the
> cdb package", it would be natural to assume that they intend that you
> may not distribute modified copies.  But DJB is a man who is
> exceptionally careful with his wordings in such cases.  He writes
> EXACTLY what he means.

Then you confirm that he meant exactly "distribute unmodified copies".

>  And as he does not actually forbid
> distribution of modified copies,

The text "You may distribute unmodified copies of the cdb package" clearly
allows to distribute unmodified copies, not modified copies.

> he has not contradicted his public
> domain comments.

"Public domain" is not always unconditional.  In this case the restriction
"unmodified" applies.

Regards,

Bart Martens