> Hi Noel, > > You wrote: > > The sentence "All ADC data are public domain..." expresses clearly that > > the data do not have, and do not need, a License to be redistributed. > > It uses the term "public domain".
Exactly. Public domain is not a License per se. It is a legal status which means the data has no copyright owner. > > > Please see https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2011/07/msg00506.html > > which fits almost exactly the case for these original data. > > I read there "what rights they have to use the work". > > > Also, please see the definition of Public Domain on > > http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/categories.en.html > > I read there "some copies or modified versions may not be free at all" and > "Sometimes people use the term “public domain” in a loose fashion to mean > “free” or “available gratis.”". > > At this point it is clear to me that the ADC has made the data available to > the public under the terms of the "use policy", not unconditionally, not > allowing anyone to do anything with the data. Public Domain is a legal term with an exact meaning. Even if it is sometimes used loosely I do not think a public institution as the ADC uses it in such way. > > > that allowed the original KStars developers to download, modify, > > relicense and redistribute the data > > What makes you think that that anyone can relicense "public domain" works ? The meaning of that legal status. This is exactly why FSF stated tha "some copies may not be free". When a work is on Public Domain, any can use it for anything, including relicense, modify, sell for profit... or include in Debian. > > > Package is fully distributable by Debian. > > Not with the information I've seen so far. May it be that you don't understand the legal meaning of Public Domain? > > Regards, > > Bart Martens Regards Noel Torres er Envite
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