On Tue, Feb 17, 2015 at 12:02:00AM -0500, Mark H Weaver wrote: > The calibre source tarball contains non-free software. Debian > distributes their own excerpted source tarball instead, with the > src/unrar, src/calibre/ebooks/markdown, and resources/viewer/mathjax > directories removed, as well as src/odf/thumbnail.py.
Amazing, thanks for looking into it. How do you find out which files debian drops? I suppose that a "dfsg" in the package name is a warning sign? This is even more surprising as there is the file COPYRIGHT in the distribution, which diligently lists the licenses of lots of packages, except apparently for the non-free ones... I will try to contact the upstream author. > (1) src/unrar's license includes the following clause: > > --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- > 2. UnRAR source code may be used in any software to handle > RAR archives without limitations free of charge, but cannot be > used to develop RAR (WinRAR) compatible archiver and to > re-create RAR compression algorithm, which is proprietary. > Distribution of modified UnRAR source code in separate form > or as a part of other software is permitted, provided that > full text of this paragraph, starting from "UnRAR source code" > words, is included in license, or in documentation if license > is not available, and in source code comments of resulting package. > --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- > > This restriction on use makes it non-free software. Clearly so! > (2) src/calibre/ebooks/markdown/serializers.py license includes the text: > > --8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8--- > # By obtaining, using, and/or copying this software and/or its > # associated documentation, you agree that you have read, understood, > # and will comply with the following terms and conditions: > # > # Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and > # its associated documentation for any purpose and without fee is > # hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appears in > # all copies, and that both that copyright notice and this permission > # notice appear in supporting documentation, and that the name of > # Secret Labs AB or the author not be used in advertising or publicity > # pertaining to distribution of the software without specific, written > # prior permission. > --8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8--- > > I'm not as confident that this one is a problem, partly because I > guess it is probably unenforceable, but the first paragraph is > attempting to put a restriction on use. They are saying that you're > not even allowed to use this software unless you have "read, > understood, and will comply with ...". I suppose that the first sentence merely states "the following license is valid", so I do not think it is a real problem. One always needs to comply with the license, no? > (3) src/odf/thumbnail.py simply says "License: Freeware". I have no > idea what that means. It is "Non-functional Data" (an image), so > (quoting the GNU FSDG) "It can be included in a free system > distribution as long as its license gives you permission to copy and > redistribute, both for commercial and non-commercial purposes." > However, I don't think we can deduce that from "License: Freeware". I think it is supposed to mean "public domain", but that is just guessing. We should drop the file. I will try to take out 1) and 3); I am not sure about 2), though. As usual in python, I suppose that things will still compile and install, and then one just needs to hope that it still works. Andreas
