Debian bug report logs - #1672 , boring messages ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Marek Michalkiewicz , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Marek Michalkiewicz Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 15:48:04 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 15:48:04 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 15:38:46 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3mAp-000BF0C; Fri, 13 Oct 95 08:37 PDT Received: from i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl by pixar.com with SMTP id AA08410 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for debian-bugs-pipe@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 08:36:58 -0700 Received: (from marekm@localhost) by i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl (8.6.12/8.6.9) id QAA02193 for debian-bugs@pixar.com; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:15 +0100 From: Marek Michalkiewicz Message-Id: <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> To: debian-bugs@pixar.com Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:10 +0100 (MET) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] Content-Type: text Content-Length: 1600 Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp I think some non-free packages are really free, and it would be nice to ask authors if there is any doubt. auto-pgp is under the GPL, and doesn't do any encryption by itself (so it's not munitions :-), what's the problem? giftrans, pbmplus - I have read the copyrights and really can't see what's the problem, could someone explain it to me? seyon - OK, may not be modified, but I don't think merely adding debian.* files counts as modification (this doesn't affect the binary; maybe distribute original source+diff instead of modified source+diff to get around this problem). Seyon is distributed with Slackware. unzip, zip - what's the problem? They are distributed on SimTel (M$-DO$) CD-ROMs, and you can't even upload anything to SimTel ftp sites that is not freely distributable on CD-ROMs. These programs are also distributed with Slackware. If in doubt, ask the authors, I don't think they will object. xv, ncftp - can't be distributed without permission, but are part of Slackware (with permission as far as I know), so I suggest to contact the authors, it is likely that they will allow distribution as part of Debian. Especially xv is a nice package - it's shareware but not many shareware programs come with source... If I understand the Guidelines document, the above packages could at least go in the "contrib" directory. They are optional, and they have some restrictions, but CD-ROM distribution should be OK. If no one has the time to ask the authors - just tell me, I will try to do it for you. Marek ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Marek Michalkiewicz Subject: Bug#1672: Acknowledgement (was: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> References: <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Thank you for the problem report you have sent regarding Debian GNU/Linux. This is an automatically generated reply, to let you know your message has been received. It is being forwarded to the developers' mailing list for their attention; they will reply in due course. If you wish to submit further information on your problem, please send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, but please ensure that the Subject line of your message starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Bruce Perens , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Bruce Perens Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 20:03:02 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 20:03:02 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 19:48:57 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3q4V-000Dl1C; Fri, 13 Oct 95 12:47 PDT Received: from mongo.pixar.com by pixar.com with SMTP id AA27068 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for debian-bugs-pipe@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 12:46:49 -0700 Received: by mongo.pixar.com (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3q48-000Dl1C; Fri, 13 Oct 95 12:46 PDT Message-Id: X-Mailer: exmh version 1.6.2 7/18/95 To: Marek Michalkiewicz , debian-bugs@Pixar.com Cc: bruce@Pixar.com In-Reply-To: Your message of "Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:10 PDT." <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 12:46:48 -0700 From: Bruce Perens marekm@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl said: > auto-pgp is under the GPL, and doesn't do any encryption by itself > (so it's not munitions :-), what's the problem? Its author asked for it to be placed in non-free. > giftrans, pbmplus - I have read the copyrights and really can't see > what's the problem, could someone explain it to me? I haven't read it. Please share it with us. Does it say anything like "may not be sold"? > seyon - OK, may not be modified, but I don't think merely adding > debian.* files counts as modification (this doesn't affect the > binary; maybe distribute original source+diff instead of modified > source+diff to get around this problem). I'd prefer to err on the cautious side here. We can't afford to be sued, and neither can our CD-ROM vendors. I'd prefer not to lose my home and assets. > Seyon is distributed with Slackware. We are more careful than slackware, or they have individual permission. > unzip, zip - what's the problem? They are distributed on SimTel > (M$-DO$) CD-ROMs, and you can't even upload anything to SimTel ftp > sites that is not freely distributable on CD-ROMs. These programs > are also distributed with Slackware. If in doubt, ask the authors, I > don't think they will object. Again, we are more careful, or they have individual permission. I haven't seen the copyright statements, please share them with us. Please correspond with the package maintainers, and if they don't object please contact the authors for a copyright statement we can live with. The copyright statement must allow the program to be sold - otherwise we can't get the software on a Debian CD-ROM, and its proper place is in non-free so that the CD-ROM publishers will not put it on their discs. > xv, ncftp - can't be distributed without permission, but are part of > Slackware (with permission as far as I know), so I suggest to contact > the authors, it is likely that they will allow distribution as part > of Debian. Especially xv is a nice package - it's shareware but not > many shareware programs come with source... If it's shareware, it belongs in non-free. CD-ROM publishers must get individual permission from the authors of these programs to distribute them. Thanks Bruce -- -- Attention Radio Amateurs: For information on "Linux for Hams", -- read the WWW page http://www.hams.com/LinuxForHams, -- or e-mail the word "help" to info@hams.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Bruce Perens Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: References: Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Marek Michalkiewicz , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Marek Michalkiewicz Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 20:48:02 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 20:48:02 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 20:40:26 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3qsw-000E0QC; Fri, 13 Oct 95 13:39 PDT Received: from i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl by pixar.com with SMTP id AA00642 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for bruce@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 13:38:44 -0700 Received: (from marekm@localhost) by i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl (8.6.12/8.6.9) id VAA03751; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:39:01 +0100 From: Marek Michalkiewicz Message-Id: <199510132039.VAA03751@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> To: bruce@Pixar.com (Bruce Perens) Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:38:58 +0100 (MET) Cc: debian-bugs@Pixar.com, bruce@Pixar.com In-Reply-To: from "Bruce Perens" at Oct 13, 95 12:46:48 pm X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23] Content-Type: text Content-Length: 6655 Bruce Perens: > > giftrans, pbmplus - I have read the copyrights and really can't see > > what's the problem, could someone explain it to me? > > I haven't read it. Please share it with us. > Does it say anything like "may not be sold"? No. From giftrans.c: /* ** GIFtrans v1.12 ** ** Convert any GIF file into a GIF89a ** Allows for setting the transparent or background color, changing colors, ** adding or removing comments. Also code to analyze GIF contents. ** ** Copyright (c) 24.2.94 by Andreas Ley ** ** Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any ** purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above ** copyright notice appears in all copies. This software is provided "as is" ** and without any express or implied warranties. [,,,] */ >From pbmplus debian.COPYRIGHT: Jef Poskanzer's COPYRIGHT for PBMPLUS All the software in this package, whether by me or by a contributer, has a copyright similar to this one: Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation. This software is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. Many people get confused by this legalese, especially the part about "without fee". Does this mean you can't charge for any product that uses PBMPLUS? No. All it means is that you don't have to pay me. You can do what you want with this software. Build it into your package, steal code from it, whatever. Just be sure to let people know where it came from. As you can see, the author even explains the confusing "without fee" thing, same as in giftrans. > > seyon - OK, may not be modified, but I don't think merely adding > > debian.* files counts as modification (this doesn't affect the > > binary; maybe distribute original source+diff instead of modified > > source+diff to get around this problem). > > I'd prefer to err on the cautious side here. We can't afford to be sued, > and neither can our CD-ROM vendors. I'd prefer not to lose my home and assets. >From seyon debian.README: ====================================================================== Seyon is Copyright (c) 1992 of Muhammad M. Saggaf. Seyon is not public domain. Permission is granted to use and distribute Seyon freely for any use and to sell it at any price without reference to the copyright owner provided that in all above cases Seyon is intact and is not made part of any program either in whole or in part and that this copyright notice is included with Seyon. Permission is also granted to modify the source as long as the modified source is not distributed. ====================================================================== So if you are so careful AND adding debian.* files counts as modification, distribution on ftp sites violates the copyright anyway... (unless you distribute original+diff instead of modified+diff). > > unzip, zip - what's the problem? They are distributed on SimTel > > (M$-DO$) CD-ROMs, and you can't even upload anything to SimTel ftp > > sites that is not freely distributable on CD-ROMs. These programs > > are also distributed with Slackware. If in doubt, ask the authors, I > > don't think they will object. > > Again, we are more careful, or they have individual permission. > I haven't seen the copyright statements, please share them with us. >From the unzip/zip FAQ at the end of the COPYING file: Q. Can I distribute Zip and UnZip sources and/or executables? A. You may redistribute the latest official distributions without any modification, and without even asking us for permission. [Note that an "executable distribution" includes documentation, even if it's in a separate zipfile; plain executables do NOT count.] You can charge for the cost of the media (CDROM, disk- ettes, etc.) and a small copying fee. Distributed archives should follow the naming conventions used in the Where file. If you want to distribute modified versions please contact us at zip-bugs@wkuvx1.wku.edu first. You must not distribute beta versions without explicit permission to do so. Again I don't think adding Debian's packaging scheme counts as modification as long as compiled executables are exactly the same. Since there are restrictions on modification but CD-ROM distribution is OK, contrib seems like a good place. Like Seyon, if Debian packaging counts as modification then even ftp distribution of modified versions is not allowed... (again, distribute original+diff instead of modified+diff if this is the problem) > Please correspond with the package maintainers, and if they don't object > please contact the authors for a copyright statement we can live with. OK, I will do so unless the maintainers respond faster (I will be off the net for a few days). > > xv, ncftp - can't be distributed without permission, but are part of > > Slackware (with permission as far as I know), so I suggest to contact > > the authors, it is likely that they will allow distribution as part > > of Debian. Especially xv is a nice package - it's shareware but not > > many shareware programs come with source... > > If it's shareware, it belongs in non-free. ... or in contrib. From the Guidelines document: Ensure that distribution is possible in binary and source form without restrictions on modification, redistribution and for-profit use of the package. All submissions to be included in the distribution proper _must_ be free of such restrictions or they cannot be included. Submissions for `contrib' availability, however, may be allowed to deviate from this requirement; we want the maximum amount of software to be available in `dpkg' format for Debian users, so in certain circumstances it will be allowable to have ``shareware'' and other non-free software optionally available as `contrib' packages. It is important to note that these packages will be _optional_ additions to the Debian system and that the Debian system itself will remain completely free of such packages. > CD-ROM publishers must > get individual permission from the authors of these programs to distribute > them. I don't know. Maybe just Slackware in general has permission from the authors, and everyone can distribute Slackware on CD-ROMs? Slackware is careful, too, they have a "non-commercial-use" directory (Kermit, Mosaic). Regards, Marek ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Marek Michalkiewicz Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: <199510132039.VAA03751@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> References: <199510132039.VAA03751@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: "James A. Robinson" , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: "James A. Robinson" Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:18:05 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:18:05 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:17:35 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3rSw-000E3AC; Fri, 13 Oct 95 14:16 PDT Received: from plato.simons-rock.edu by pixar.com with SMTP id AA03341 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for debian-bugs-pipe@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 14:15:56 -0700 Received: from simons-rock.edu by plato.simons-rock.edu with smtp (Smail3.1.29.1 #1) id m0t3qkX-0003LRC; Fri, 13 Oct 95 16:30 EDT Message-Id: To: Marek Michalkiewicz , debian-bugs@pixar.com In-Reply-To: Message from Marek Michalkiewicz of "Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:10 BST." <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:30:37 -0400 From: "James A. Robinson" > giftrans, pbmplus - I have read the copyrights and really can't see > what's the problem, could someone explain it to me? I maintain pbmplus, the problem is that, while the author's copyright says it is free for distribution, some people are worried about the "recent" Compuserve problem with the GIF format. I've sent mail to the author, and he doesn't respond, so for now it is stuck in non-free. > If no one has the time to ask the authors - just tell me, I will > try to do it for you. If you can track the pbmplus author down to a place where he answers his mail, go for it! :) Jim ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: "James A. Robinson" Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: References: Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Michael E. Deisher , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Michael E. Deisher Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:33:01 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:33:01 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:21:55 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3tPI-000DJ0C; Fri, 13 Oct 95 16:20 PDT Received: from asuvax.EAS.ASU.EDU by pixar.com with SMTP id AA12490 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for debian-bugs-pipe@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:20:28 -0700 Received: from ganges (enws428.EAS.ASU.EDU) by asuvax.eas.asu.edu with SMTP id AA12476 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for debian-bugs@pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:17:56 -0700 Received: by ganges (5.x/SMI-SVR4) id AA03469; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:20:03 -0700 Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:20:03 -0700 Message-Id: <9510132320.AA03469@ganges> From: Michael E. Deisher To: marekm@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl, debian-bugs@pixar.com In-Reply-To: <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> (message from Marek Michalkiewicz on Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:10 +0100 (MET)) On Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:10 +0100 (MET), Marek Michalkiewicz said: > auto-pgp is under the GPL, and doesn't do any encryption by itself > (so it's not munitions :-), what's the problem? The author (Ian Jackson) felt that it would confuse people to have a package in the Debian Linux distribution that depends on another package (pgp) that is non-free. As the package maintainer, I was disappointed with this decision. However, it makes some sense. This way people who buy CDs (and don't have ftp access) aren't getting packages they can't use. --Mike ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Michael E. Deisher Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: <9510132320.AA03469@ganges> References: <9510132320.AA03469@ganges> Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Bruce Perens , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Bruce Perens Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:48:02 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:48:02 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Fri, 13 Oct 1995 23:38:38 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3tfO-000DIgC; Fri, 13 Oct 95 16:37 PDT Received: from mongo.pixar.com by pixar.com with SMTP id AA13174 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for bruce@mongo.pixar.com); Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:07 -0700 Received: by mongo.pixar.com (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t3tev-000DgCC; Fri, 13 Oct 95 16:37 PDT Message-Id: X-Mailer: exmh version 1.6.2 7/18/95 To: Marek Michalkiewicz Cc: bruce@Pixar.com (Bruce Perens), debian-bugs@Pixar.com In-Reply-To: Your message of "Fri, 13 Oct 1995 21:38:58 PDT." <199510132039.VAA03751@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 16:37:01 -0700 From: Bruce Perens OK - giftrans and pbmplus are in non-free because of the Unisys compression patent. They infringe on the patent. I'd want a written license from Unisys before including these on a CD. This is a good reason to support FSF & LPF in their efforts against software patents. Regarding ZIP and UNZIP "You can charge for the cost of the media (CDROM, diskettes, etc.) and a small copying fee." is sufficient reason to keep them in non-free. No CD-ROM that I know of is sold for media cost and a copying fee - they are explicitly sold for profit. The CD manufacturers are free to include stuff from non-free if they want the liability. I don't want them to put non-free software on their discs through ignorance, thus we put it in a special directory. In the case of Seyon, we should get an individual license of the type I got Steven van den Berg to agree to for Procmail: The copyright statement below is addended for the Debian system: This program may be sold as a component of the Debian Linux distribution or a Linux distribution derived from the Debian Linux distribution. If it is distributed in binary form, the source code must be included in the distribution as well. End of addendum. In the case of xv and ncftp, we should get a license addendum like the one above. If the reason for keeping a package out of the main distribution is the copyright, and not a desire to keep it unsupported, that package belongs in non-free, not contrib. The guidelines, unfortunately, are out of date. I want to make it very clear that "everyone else was doing it, so I did it too" would not work as a defense in U.S. civil court. I could lose all of my savings, stock in my employer's company, and property if I get sued over this issue. Thus, I'm going to try to err on the side of caution on copyright and patent issues. Thanks Bruce -- -- Attention Radio Amateurs: For information on "Linux for Hams", -- read the WWW page http://www.hams.com/LinuxForHams, -- or e-mail the word "help" to info@hams.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Bruce Perens Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: References: Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent to debian-devel@pixar.com: Subject: Bug#1672: non-free packages Reply-To: Ian Jackson , debian-bugs@pixar.com Resent-From: Ian Jackson Resent-To: debian-devel@pixar.com Resent-Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 11:03:01 GMT Resent-Message-ID: Resent-Sender: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk X-Debian-PR-Package: auto-pgp, giftrans, pbmplus, seyon, unzip, zip, xv, ncftp X-Debian-PR-Keywords: Received: via spool for debian-bugs; Sun, 15 Oct 1995 11:03:01 GMT Received: with rfc822 via encapsulated-mail; Sun, 15 Oct 1995 10:49:21 GMT Received: from pixar.com by mongo.pixar.com with smtp (Smail3.1.28.1 #15) id m0t4Qc4-000ETNC; Sun, 15 Oct 95 03:48 PDT Received: from bootes.cus.cam.ac.uk by pixar.com with SMTP id AA21667 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for debian-bugs-pipe@mongo.pixar.com); Sun, 15 Oct 1995 03:47:51 -0700 Received: by bootes.cus.cam.ac.uk (Smail-3.1.29.0 #36) id m0t4Qby-000BzhC; Sun, 15 Oct 95 11:48 BST Received: by chiark id (Debian /\oo/\ Smail3.1.29.1 #29.33); Sat, 14 Oct 95 17:45 BST Message-Id: Date: Sat, 14 Oct 95 17:45 BST From: Ian Jackson To: debian-bugs@pixar.com References: <199510131537.QAA02193@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl> Bruce Perens writes ("Bug#1672: non-free packages"): > marekm@i17linuxb.ists.pwr.wroc.pl said: > > auto-pgp is under the GPL, and doesn't do any encryption by itself > > (so it's not munitions :-), what's the problem? > > Its author asked for it to be placed in non-free. This is somewhat misleading. The dpkg maintainer asked for it to be placed in non-free. As it happens the dpkg maintainer and the author of auto-pgp are the same person, me :-), but the reason I asked for it to be moved is not because I don't want it in Debian (I do), but because it depends on PGP, which has to go in non-free. In general, putting X in a higher priority level than Y when X depends on Y is a bad thing from the point of view of dselect's dependency management. It can go back into the main distribution when I get around to producing a Debian version of PGP 2.3a which has enough of the bugs fixed to be suitable for use. Ian. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Message sent: From: iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson) To: Ian Jackson Subject: Bug#1672: Info received (was Bug#1672: non-free packages) In-Reply-To: References: Thank you for the additional information you have supplied regarding this problem report. It has been forwarded to the developers to accompany the original report. If you wish to continue to submit further information on your problem, please do the same thing again: send it to debian-bugs@pixar.com, ensuring that the Subject line starts with "Bug#1672" or "Re: Bug#1672" so that we can identify it as relating to the same problem. Please do not reply to the address at the top of this message, unless you wish to report a problem with the bug-tracking system. Ian Jackson (maintainer, debian-bugs) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ian Jackson / iwj10@thor.cam.ac.uk , with the debian-bugs tracking mechanism This page last modified 07:43:01 GMT Wed 01 Nov