On Thu, Oct 23, 2003 at 10:25:22AM -0400, Brian Ristuccia wrote: > On Thu, Oct 23, 2003 at 03:33:24PM +0200, Julien LEMOINE wrote: > > Hello, > > > > I uploaded today a version of centericq with support for last msn > > protocol > > (MSN9). I received a question from upstream author, he do not want to > > include this patch in official release for the moment because he do not > > know if this is legal. > > > > Does someone know if this MSN9 support is legal ? > > > > A short resume of the problem is given on gaim page [1], microsoft now > > require a licence for connecting on a msn server. > > > > For the purposes of Debian, you need to concern yourself only with whether > the software itself can be distributed without infringing on any copyright > held on the software itself. As of version (4.9.2-5arc), centericq was > distributable under the terms of the GNU GPL, which we generally consider to > be acceptable. > > (The fact that end users might use the software for something illegal is > irrelevant to whether or not it can be included in Debian. One can use > mixmaster for industrial espionage, john to brute-force UNIX password files > for the purpose of making unauthorized use of private computers, some > half-dozen or more packet sniffers to run illegal wiretaps, GNU shred to > destroy evidence, and xvidtune to commit arson[1]. We still distribute > those).
However, that does not mean the same is true for the upstream author; and if he requests that you wait until he's checked with a lawyer, I don't think it's unreasonable to do so. -- Wouter Verhelst Debian GNU/Linux -- http://www.debian.org Nederlandstalige Linux-documentatie -- http://nl.linux.org "Stop breathing down my neck." "My breathing is merely a simulation." "So is my neck, stop it anyway!" -- Voyager's EMH versus the Prometheus' EMH, stardate 51462.
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