License question: GPL+Exception
Hi, I'm a member of the font packaging team. Red Hat recently has released a set of fonts under the GPL with an exception about it's trademarks. This fonts can cover the lack of Arial, Times and Courier fonts. We started our work to package them for Debian but noticed that's better to ask debian-legal about the license before uploading the package. You can find the exact license here: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/pkg-fonts/packages/ttf-liberation/trunk/debian/copyright?op=filerev=0sc=0 Please advise if it's needed to add something in the copyright file or so. Thanks, Alan -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: License question: GPL+Exception
On Sat, 12 May 2007 20:52:05 +0100 (BST) Alan Baghumian wrote: [...] You can find the exact license here: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/pkg-fonts/packages/ttf-liberation/trunk/debian/copyright?op=filerev=0sc=0 Mmmmh, does the following exception constitute an additional restriction with respect to the GNU GPL v2? | (b) As a further exception, any distribution of the object code of the | Software in a physical product must provide you the right to | access and modify the source code for the Software and to | reinstall that modified version of the Software in object code | form on the same physical product on which you received it. If this is the case, the work could be even undistributable, because it's licensed under inconsistent[1] terms (GPLv2 + additional restrictions). What do other debian-legal contributors think? [1] For a more detailed explanation of the problems that arise from adding restrictions to the GPL v2, see the following thread: http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/05/msg00298.html Especially take a look at this reply from RMS: http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/05/msg00303.html and at my analysis: http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2006/05/msg00309.html -- http://frx.netsons.org/doc/nanodocs/testing_workstation_install.html Need to read a Debian testing installation walk-through? . Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4 pgp4RXZHH2tNC.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: License question: GPL+Exception
On Saturday 12 May 2007 13:30:43 Francesco Poli wrote: Mmmmh, does the following exception constitute an additional restriction with respect to the GNU GPL v2? | (b) As a further exception, any distribution of the object code of the | Software in a physical product must provide you the right to | access and modify the source code for the Software and to | reinstall that modified version of the Software in object code | form on the same physical product on which you received it. If this is the case, the work could be even undistributable, because it's licensed under inconsistent[1] terms (GPLv2 + additional restrictions). What do other debian-legal contributors think? This makes it GPL incompatible, but I think it's still DFSG free. The GPL says: 6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to this License. So if you redistribute the Program, you may not impose any further restrictions. Obviously others, like Debian, could not add additional restrictions. However, assuming RedHat is not using parts of GPL software in their fonts, they are free to add addition restrictions the their originally licensed software--as they copyright holders, they can use any license they want. So if they say their fonts are GPL+restriction, the fonts are NOT GPL compatible, but as long as the restriction itself is DFSG free, the work as a whole should be fine. The restriction they've added itself is very GPLv3-esque, so I don't see why it wouldn't be DFSG free[1]. [1] Cue someone who will point out a billion reasons why they think similar clauses in GPLv3 drafts aren't DFSG. -- Wesley J. Landaker [EMAIL PROTECTED] xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] OpenPGP FP: 4135 2A3B 4726 ACC5 9094 0097 F0A9 8A4C 4CD6 E3D2 pgpPTh5fpeTsl.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: License question: GPL+Exception
On Sat, 12 May 2007 13:55:23 -0600 Wesley J. Landaker wrote: On Saturday 12 May 2007 13:30:43 Francesco Poli wrote: [...] If this is the case, the work could be even undistributable, because it's licensed under inconsistent[1] terms (GPLv2 + additional restrictions). What do other debian-legal contributors think? This makes it GPL incompatible, but I think it's still DFSG free. The GPL says: 6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms and conditions. You may not impose any further ^^ restrictions on the recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. ^^ You are not responsible for enforcing compliance by third parties to this License. So if you redistribute the Program, you may not impose any further restrictions. You may not impose any further restrictions with respect to the *rights granted by the GPL*. But there are already such restrictions, and you cannot remove them because you are not the copyright holder. Hence you cannot comply with the license and the work is undistributable. Please see the thread that I referenced in the footnote of my previous message. Obviously others, like Debian, could not add additional restrictions. However, assuming RedHat is not using parts of GPL software in their fonts, they are free to add addition restrictions the their originally licensed software--as they copyright holders, they can use any license they want. They can use any license they want, but if they use a self-contradicting one, we do *not* have a valid license and the result is an undistributable work... [...] The restriction they've added itself is very GPLv3-esque, so I don't see why it wouldn't be DFSG free[1]. The fact that a clause is *similar* to one seen in a GPLv3 draft has *never* been a valid reason why it should be considered DFSG-free. Please, let's avoid drifting away from the topic we are talking about: we are trying to analyze a GPLv2 + restrictions licensing scheme. -- http://frx.netsons.org/doc/nanodocs/testing_workstation_install.html Need to read a Debian testing installation walk-through? . Francesco Poli . GnuPG key fpr == C979 F34B 27CE 5CD8 DC12 31B5 78F4 279B DD6D FCF4 pgpdgX93TJQ4N.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: Bug#383316: Derivative works for songs
Francesco Poli [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: However, if the author says that it's a metal version of Ryu's theme, I think he means that the melody is the same, even though the musical genre is changed. *If* this is the case, I would call it a cover and hence I'm afraid it qualifies as an adaptation or derivative work of the original soundtrack, which is copyrighted by CAPCOM (most probably). On Fri, 11 May 2007 16:05:34 +0100 Matthew Johnson wrote: Obviously debian-legal are not lawyers, but I would appreciate your opinions. I could just leave it out to be on the safe side, I could leave it in, hope that the ftp-masters accept it and hope that nothing comes of it or I could try and get an opinion from someone like SPI. I would leave it out. I agree. There's another issue with the remaining four songs, though. Is their source available? I mean: what's the preferred form[1] for making modifications to the songs? Is this form available? I hope that the scores are available, or a track-by-track recording, to avoid any build-depends on Sony ACID Pro 5 in a really clear way. However, for debian compilation of the game, isn't the preferred source form the mixed recording? The one used in the build? Puzzled, -- MJR/slef My Opinion Only: see http://people.debian.org/~mjr/ Please follow http://www.uk.debian.org/MailingLists/#codeofconduct -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: License question: GPL+Exception
On Saturday 12 May 2007 16:01:25 Francesco Poli wrote: You may not impose any further restrictions with respect to the *rights granted by the GPL*. But there are already such restrictions, and you cannot remove them because you are not the copyright holder. Hence you cannot comply with the license and the work is undistributable. A licensee can't, but the copyright holder can. Their license is NOT the GPL, but GPL + exceptions restrictions. That is perfectly valid, just not GPL compatible. The exception they have adds extra freedom, and I believe the one restriction they add is DFSG-free. Anyway, I'm not going to get into a big debate about it. The OP is just going to have to decide, and if the upload the package, the ftp-masters will have to decide what they believe. -- Wesley J. Landaker [EMAIL PROTECTED] xmpp:[EMAIL PROTECTED] OpenPGP FP: 4135 2A3B 4726 ACC5 9094 0097 F0A9 8A4C 4CD6 E3D2 pgp8MoYXHvoMJ.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: License question: GPL+Exception
Wesley J. Landaker writes: On Saturday 12 May 2007 16:01:25 Francesco Poli wrote: You may not impose any further restrictions with respect to the *rights granted by the GPL*. But there are already such restrictions, and you cannot remove them because you are not the copyright holder. Hence you cannot comply with the license and the work is undistributable. A licensee can't, but the copyright holder can. Their license is NOT the GPL, but GPL + exceptions restrictions. That is perfectly valid, just not GPL compatible. The exception they have adds extra freedom, and I believe the one restriction they add is DFSG-free. The text of the GPL is copyrighted. To the best of my knowledge, the FSF is like most of the free software community in generally discouraging the creation such derivative licenses. In any case, the copyright owner for this software really should talk to the FSF about getting permission to use the text of the GPL in a GPL+limitations type of license. Michael Poole -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
