I was wondering about the GPL and its restrictions. Not the GPL programs, but the GPL license text itself.
(from /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL) # Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc. # 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA # Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies # of this license document, but changing it is not allowed. Then I go look at the DFSG: (from http://www.debian.org/social_contract) # 3.Derived Works # # The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must allow them # to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the original # software. Something odd is going on. GPL'ed programs are free (according to the DFSG), but the GPL itself is not? I can see two possible solutions: 1. Move the entire /usr/share/common-licenses and all the non-DFSG /usr/{,share}/doc/*/copyright files to a non-free package. 2. (IMNSHO the best option) Add an exception to the DFSG saying that the license files do not need to comply with item 3 (the license file is part of the source packages after all). The usual disclaimers apply; I'm not a Debian developer, and I'm not subscribed to the lists. Note that I crossposted this message to -devel and -legal; I think the discussion should be carried on -legal only. -- Cesar Eduardo Barros [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
