Fwd: Re: Copyright and License status of transtab
Hello. I am working on preparing the 'python-translitcodec' python module for inclusion in Debian, and I've run into a snag with an ambiguous license/copyright. I contacted the author of the python module, and the attributed author of the directory in question. His reply is below. Would including the text and headers of said reply in the debian/copyright file be sufficient to meet the DFSG? I tend to think they would be, but would appreciate a +1 from those who know better than I. Thank you! --- Begin forwarded message from Markus Kuhn --- From: Markus Kuhn markus.k...@cl.cam.ac.uk To: Clint Byrum cl...@ubuntu.com Cc: Jason Kirtland j...@discorporate.us Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:23:38 -0800 Subject: Re: Copyright and License status of transtab Clint Byrum wrote on 2012-01-30 07:34 UTC: My name is Clint, and I'm working on Packaging the python library 'translitcodec' for Debian. In the course of packaging and review, its become clear that the license status of one directory of the library is ambiguous. Because Debian follows strict guidelines to both avoid liability for its developers, and also safeguard user freedom, the software won't be accepted without first clarifying this. The software in question is available here: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/translitcodec/ Jason, you are the attributed author. It claims to make use of the transtab data provided by you, Dr. Markus Kuhn. Can either of you provide documentation of the copyright status and/or license granted to this data? http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/download/transtab.tar.gz Should I ever get around to making another transtab release (an old, unfinished project), I'll try to remember to add the following license text somewhere: Markus Kuhn http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ -- -mm-dd http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/short-license.html Executive summary: I promise not to sue you. Hope this helped ... Markus --- End forwarded message --- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-legal-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/1328040264-sup-8...@fewbar.com
Re: Fwd: Re: Copyright and License status of transtab
On Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:04:26 -0800 Clint Byrum wrote: Hello. Hi! I am working on preparing the 'python-translitcodec' python module for inclusion in Debian, and I've run into a snag with an ambiguous license/copyright. Thanks a lot for your packaging effort and for taking legal issues seriously. This is really appreciated, indeed. I contacted the author of the python module, and the attributed author of the directory in question. His reply is below. Would including the text and headers of said reply in the debian/copyright file be sufficient to meet the DFSG? I tend to think they would be, but would appreciate a +1 from those who know better than I. I think that the text and headers of the reply you quoted would be fine, as long as you also include a full quotation of the referenced web page http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/short-license.html complete with linked URLs. If I read that web page correctly, the directory you are talking about is multiply-licensed under a good number of Free Software licenses, at the recipient's choice, among which the Expat/MIT license: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license or (as I prefer) http://www.jclark.com/xml/copying.txt The Expat/MIT is a simple non-copyleft Free Software license which is compatible with basically everything, hence I think there are no problems with this directory. Thank you! You are welcome! -- http://www.inventati.org/frx/frx-gpg-key-transition-2010.txt New GnuPG key, see the transition document! . Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == CA01 1147 9CD2 EFDF FB82 3925 3E1C 27E1 1F69 BFFE pgpxVYOHt3tCl.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: Fwd: Re: Copyright and License status of transtab
Le Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:04:26PM -0800, Clint Byrum a écrit : I contacted the author of the python module, and the attributed author of the directory in question. His reply is below. Dear Clint, In the reply, I read: Should I ever get around to making another transtab release (an old, unfinished project) Regardless of the license, this calls in question whether this piece of code is fit for the level of support expected for a Debian package. If there are possible replacements that are actively maintaine, it may pay off to switch to them. Have a nice day, -- Charles Plessy Tsurumi, Kanagawa, Japan -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-legal-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20120131233838.ga16...@merveille.plessy.net
