On Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:27:27 -0700 Tony Mancill wrote: [...] > We are trying to determine the licensing status of a new package, > libjxp-java, for which most of the source is licensed under the LGPL, > but includes 2 (modified) files for which the original license is the > Sun Public License 1.0. Searches of debian-legal and other resources > seem to indicate that the Sun Public License is not DFSG-free [...]
The Sun Public License seems to be similar to the MPL, which I personally consider as incapable to meet the DFSG. Other debian-legal regulars seem to share my opinion: http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2004/06/msg00221.html http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/03/msg00551.html On the other hand, other people disagree with me and claim that the MPL is perfectly acceptable for Debian main (some of these people claimed this in a rather rude and insulting way): http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2007/07/msg00197.html http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2007/07/msg00215.html > Does this require the > package to placed into non-free? To determine this, we must first understand the relationship between those two SPL'ed files and the rest of the package, which is LGPL'ed. As a matter of fact, and independently from the DFSG-freeness debate, the SPL is GPL-incompatible, as confirmed by the FSF: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#SPL Hence, *if* those two files are *part of* the LGPL'ed library (rather than just linked with it, or merely aggregated), then I am under the impression that the package is legally undistributable, and thus should *not* be distributed by the Debian Project at all (no matter through which archive: main, contrib, or non-free!). Tony, could you please clarify the relationship between the two files and the rest of package? What do other debian-legal regulars think? [...] > P.S. Please cc: me on replies, as I am not subscribed to the list. Done. I assumed Gregor was to be Cc:ed too, please correct me if I'm wrong. -- New location for my website! Update your bookmarks! http://www.inventati.org/frx ..................................................... Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4
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