Scripsit Andreas Metzler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Jens Peter Secher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > I have provided an unofficial deb package[1] of Moscow ML (an ML > > compiler) for some time now, but it has licensing problems. > > According[2] to Torsten Landschoff, there was a discussion of this > > matter on this list, but I cannot seem to find it. Is there anyone > > who can give me pointers to the discussion? > http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2000/debian-devel-200008/msg00604.html A later thread is http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2001/debian-legal-200102/msg00023.html Abstract of the situation: The source of the Moscow ML compiler is GPL'ed. However the compiler compiles to a bytecode language for which the interpreter is covered by a non-free licence (which prohibits for-profit distribution). Since it is written in its own lanaguage, the compiler also uses the non-free bytecode interpreter to run. The -devel thread Andreas refers to concludes that this means that the whole thing is basically non-distributable, but I beg to differ. The copyright notice for the compiler (in the source tarball's README file) explicitly acknowledges the non-freedom of the runtime-system, so it is reasonable to assume that what the authors meant is that the code is distributable even though it depends on the non-free runtime system. There's not any explicit exception statement, but the intent is clear nevertheless, and as far as I can ascertain there is no third-party GPL code around that could foul up things. A bunch of us (which includes me, JP Secher and other guys) would really like to see Moscow ML in Debian (and, on my own behalf, I'd really like to see it linked with libreadline, which the non-free runtime currently prevents), so we're trying to increase pressure on the Moscow ML developers, as well as the original authors of the runtime system, get the licenses sorted out. -- Henning Makholm "He who joyfully eats soup has already earned my contempt. He has been given teeth by mistake, since for him the intestines would fully suffice."
