Hello, I'd been talking about C-Kermit license with the HPTalx upstream mantainer and I explained him, that C-Kermit license is a non-free license from a DFSG point of view because the Clause (A), don't let modification of the source code without the consent of the Kermit Project (Columbia University) and the fourth paragraph of the DFSG don't let it in this way. I would like someone confirm me this reasoning, thank you. -- Javier Viñuales Gutiérrez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> GnuPG public information: pub 1024D/4EB82468 1C2A 0241 D350 B43D E027 4FCD F8E8 3454 4EB8 2468
On vie, mar 09, 2001 at 10:25:24 -0300, Bruno Barberi Gnecco wrote: > I was taking a look at the kermit license, and it allows the > distribution "with "free" operating systems such as GNU/Linux". Take > a look: > > ftp://kermit.columbia.edu/kermit/f/COPYING.TXT Hello Bruno, This license is a non-free licende from the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG, http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines) point of view if you read the fourth paragraph: 4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in modified form _only if the license allows the distribution of "patch files" with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code. The license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software. (This is a compromise. The Debian group encourages all authors to not restrict any files, source or binary, from being modified.) The Clause (A) of the C-KERMIT 7.0 license says: (A) The C-Kermit software, in source and/or binary form, may be included WITHOUT EXPLICIT LICENSE in distributions of OPERATING SYSTEMS that have OSI (Open Source Initiative, www.opensource.org) approved licenses, even if non-Open-Source applications (but not operating systems) are included in the same distribution. Such distributions include, but are not limited to, CD-ROM, FTP site, Web site, or preinstalled software on a new GENERAL-PURPOSE computer, as long as the primary character of the distribution is an Open Source operating system with accompanying utilities. The ~~~ C-Kermit source code may not be changed without the consent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ of the Kermit Project, which will not be unreasonably withheld ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (this is simply a matter of keeping a consistent and supportable ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ code base). ~~~~~~~~~~ I think the last point of Clause (A) it's a concept error from Columbia University about the "Open Source" vs "Free Software" definitions and there isn't any reason to do it in this way. I'll talk with the Debian Developers about it. Cheers -- Javier Viñuales Gutiérrez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> GnuPG public information: pub 1024D/4EB82468 1C2A 0241 D350 B43D E027 4FCD F8E8 3454 4EB8 2468
