Bug#729749: ITP: fonts-rabat -- Arabic Maghribi Mabsout OpenType font

[Osamu Aoki <osamu@debian.org>]

Hi,

On Sat, Nov 16, 2013 at 02:15:33PM +0000, Mohamed Amine wrote:
> Package: wnpp
> Severity: wishlist
> Owner: Mohamed Amine <med@mailoo.org>
> 
> * Package name    : fonts-rabat
>   Version         : 1.0
>   Upstream Author : Youssef JABRI <yjabri@ensa.ump.ma>
> * URL             : http://sourceforge.net/projects/maghribifonts/
> * License         : non-free
>   Description     : Arabic Maghribi Mabsout OpenType font
> 
>  Rabat is a high quality font in Maghribi Mabsout style
>  with many ligatures and diacritics programmed to position
>  correctly according the basic character.

I was wondering why non-free.  URL site did not have any obvious license
file.  As I downloaded its font file and looked into its internal data:

|  Copyright (c) 2010 by Youssef JABRI. All rights reserved. May be used
|  Freely. No copying of glyphs or reverse engeneering allowed without the
|  written permission of the copyright owner. yjabri@ensa.ump.ma

("engeneering" may have been "engineering")

It allows us to "use" but no license text for "distribution".  Without
it, it can not be distributed by Debian even in non-free.  (Normally,
"use" do not include "distribution".)

Also, I do not know how to "use" font data to any meaningful ways
without "copying" its data to pdf files or printer data flow etc.
Upstream might have meant only to prohibit making of derivative font
data but no one can be sure.  Reasonable non-free license has exception
for copying for typical use cases such as printing and embedding into
pdf files containing documents as needed basis etc.

I think you should contact the upstream and obtain a license which
allows at least distribution.  Also, point out concerns and encourage
him to pick established font license, hopefully free one.

Good luck,

Osamu