On Tue, Aug 15, 2000 at 02:09:57PM -0400, Peter S Galbraith wrote: > > Troll Tech clearly does have the ability to grant implicit permission for > > their code and anyone on this list should concede that this software has > > no legal problems. > > Huh? Here you say it doesn't have problems...
Legally, no, no problems. > > Will it make it into Debian? Not unless: > > > > * someone wishes to package it > > * explicit permission is given > > Here you imply it does... I don't. I say flat out that it is Debian's policy (and always has been, conspiracy theories of Debian making up rules to keep KDE out aside since the policy existed before KDE was out in the first place) that author's intent is not sufficient. We nearly lost all ircII based clients (including one of them that I maintain - epic4) because of a license wording issue way back when early on in the ircII development. The license said no modifications. That restriction was lifted when the code changed hands. But it was never spelled out. When this came to light, the same ultimatum facing the majority of KDE was also given to ircII-based package maintainers and upstreams: The license needed to say what it meant or Debian wouldn't keep the packages. One Debian developer spent a couple afternoons tracking down the two people necessary to fix the license so the implicit permission granted when the code changed hands became explicit. It took about a week, but it wouldn't have happened without willingness on the part of the epic3 maintainer and the upstream developers (hop, phone, panasync, and guys who have long since left the picture) agreeing to just use a FreeBSD-style license and call it good. That'll never happen to KDE. Too many people are determined to hold out to the bitter end and make sure it never happens. And yeah, a couple of them are Debian people. But not most of them. > > * implicit permission becomes unnecessary > > I don't understand. The new QPL which was brought up just in time to silence protests resulting from my editorial and then vanish without a trace. Maybe it's being worked on. Maybe it's not. If it is being worked on, Debian hasn't been invited into the discussion. The lack of information leaves many Debian people skeptical, several more hopeful, and me outright cynnical. I've seen this game play out too many times with the people here. Nothing changes. Debian is quite firm in its policies and frankly many feel KDE has tried to screw us more than once. KDE supporters are quite convinced Debian is the devil and will do anything to make sure KDE never "gives in to Debian's demands".. All the while, flamewars continue and egos are bruised. KDE in Debian? Hah, not likely. And there's not a fucking thing I can do about it. I tried and failed. -- Joseph Carter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> GnuPG key 1024D/DCF9DAB3 Debian GNU/Linux (http://www.debian.org/) 20F6 2261 F185 7A3E 79FC The QuakeForge Project (http://quakeforge.net/) 44F9 8FF7 D7A3 DCF9 DAB3 <xtifr> direct brain implants :) <knghtbrd> xtifr - yah, then using computers would actually require some of these idiots to think! <knghtbrd> ;>
