Miriam Ruiz wrote: > I'm not sure if it's license ( > http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=293346 ) can be considered > free enough to be in main:
FYI, the right place to ask this is [EMAIL PROTECTED] Moving it over there. Full-quoting because of this. Summary: I don't believe this is a free software licence, failing at least DFSG 3, 4, and 9. It may additionaly fail DFSG 6. Due to the failure of DFSG 9, I doubt this can even go in non-free. > > Use of the ECW SDK with Unlimited Decompressing and Unlimited Compression for > applications licensed under a GNU General Public style license ("GPL") is > governed by the "ECW SDK PUBLIC USE LICENSE AGREEMENT". Not sure what they're thinking, as this definitely isn't GPL-compatible. > > > * About modifications: > > b) You may make modifications to the Software and distribute your > modifications, in a form that is separate from the Software, such as > patches. The following restrictions apply to modifications: Requiring patches is allowed as an explicit exception given in DFSG. However, I don't see anything allowing us to distribute binaries built from patched sources, thus this seems to fail DFSG 4 ("[t]he license must explicitly permit distribution of software built from modified source code.") > i) Modifications must not alter or remove any copyright notices in the > Software. This is acceptable, provided they're actually reasonable copyright notices. > ii) When modifications to the Software are released under this license, a > non-exclusive royalty-free right is granted to the initial > developer of the Software to distribute your modification in future versions > of the Software provided such versions remain available under > these terms in addition to any other license(s) of the initial developer. I'm uncomfortable with this, but considering the other problems I can punt on deciding :-D > iii) You are not permitted to change the ECW file format. Fails DFSG 3. > iv) You are not permitted to use Software Product for development or > distribution of "Server Software" that provides services or > functionality on a computer acting as a server. Fails DFSG 3 and 9 (restriction in this case is "may not be distributed alongside server software"); also possibly 6. > > > * About restriction of use (I just don't know DFARS 252.227-7013 so I have no > idea what's said in here) Neither do I. > > 3) U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. > The SOFTWARE PRODUCT and documentation are provided with RESTRICTED RIGHTS. > Use, duplication, or disclosure by the US Government is subject > to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of The Rights in > Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013 > or subparagraphs (c)(1) and (2) of the Commercial Computer Software - > Restricted Rights at 48 CFR 52.227-19, as applicable. Manufacturer is > Earth Resource Mapping Limited. > > 4) DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS. > a) Rental. You may not rent, lease or lend the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. Not sure how this affects DFSG freeness. I can't think of a single free license we've seen on -legal with similar provisions. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]