* Mazen NEIFER [Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:17:20 +0100]: > Hi,
Sorry, I'm afraid it is too late in the release cycle to update a package with such big changes. You will be able to provide fpc-2.2.0 in backports.org so that users can use it to write non-GPL code. Thanks, > Debian packages for FPC-2.2.0 have a copyright issue which makes it > complicated to use this version for a non GPL project. Indeed, 23 > routines in the Run-Time library were identified by FPC developers as > being possible copyright infringements: the sources were contributed by > non core developers and were possibly copied from Borland copyrighted > code. > To remove any suspicion, they have been re-implemented using a > clean-room approach, and this re-implementation was included in release > 2.2.2. > Please note that the infringed code was released under Kylix LGPL, so > there is not necessarily a problem for Debian users using FPC to write > GPL programs. The problem is mainly for people needing FPC's COPYING.FPC > exception allowing linking statically to FPC RTL without being forced to > share their code source, ie using FPC to write non GPL programs. > The original of the suspicious code was published by Borland as GPL > code, it is available on Source Forge: > http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=22417 > It is dual-licensed with a Borland and GPL license: > (sample from the Classes.pas file included in the archive) > { *************************************************************************** > } > {} > { Kylix and Delphi Cross-Platform Visual Component Library} > {} > { Copyright (c) 1995, 2001 Borland Software Corporation} > {} > { This file may be distributed and/or modified under the terms of the GNU} > { General Public License (GPL) version 2 as published by the Free Software } > { Software Foundation and appearing at http://www.borland.com/kylix/gpl.html. > } > {} > { Licensees holding a valid Borland No-Nonsense License for this Software may > } > { use this file in accordance with such license, which appears in the file } > { license.txt that came with this Software. } > { } > { *************************************************************************** > } > So basically, the Debian packages provided in Lenny include the wrong > license for FPC-2.2.0 RTL and units. > By upgrading to FPC-2.2.2 this issue is solved. > Best regards, > Mazen, -- Adeodato Simó dato at net.com.org.es Debian Developer adeodato at debian.org A lie can go round the world before the truth has got its boots on. -- Terry Pratchett -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
