bugGNU gettext - Bugs: bug #44190, Makefile.in.in license

 
 

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bug #44190: Makefile.in.in license

Submitter:  None
Submitted:  Thu 05 Feb 2015 03:11:41 PM UTC
   
 
Category:  Programmer tools Severity:  3 - Normal
Item Group:  None Status:  Fix Released
Privacy:  Public Assigned to:  ueno
Open/Closed:  Closed

Wed 18 Feb 2015 02:23:31 AM UTC, comment #1: 

Thanks for the report.  After discussing off-line, we decided to just use the text of GNU All-Permissive License per your suggestion.  The fix has been pushed as:
http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/gettext.git/commit/?id=9e117619

Daiki Ueno <ueno>
Group administrator
Thu 05 Feb 2015 03:11:41 PM UTC, original submission:  

Hi,

I saw discussion on Debian legal on license template of Makefile.in.in.  At this moment Debian is treating this license as empirically "Permissive" and acceptable FREE license.

But careful reading of the license text indicates some short comings: (Here is quote from the mailing list post)

Discussion:  https://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/2015/01/msg00048.html
 
Files with this text were distributed in old GNU gettext
(gettext-0.10.40/po/Makefile.in.in:# This file file be copied and)

It looks like this odd license text has been corrected in the file
Makefile.in.in from GNU gettext 0.19.4, and possibly in earlier versions.

# Makefile for PO directory in any package using GNU gettext.
# Copyright (C) 1995-1997, 2000-2007, 2009-2010 by Ulrich Drepper
+<drepper@gnu.ai.mit.edu>
#
# This file can be copied and used freely without restrictions.  It can
# be used in projects which are not available under the GNU General Public
# License but which still want to provide support for the GNU gettext
# functionality.
# Please note that the actual code of GNU gettext is covered by the GNU
# General Public License and is not in the public domain.
#
# Origin: gettext-0.19

I believe the intent is to offer the file under a permissive license that is compatible with GPL, but it remains the case that no explicit permission to modify the file is offered.

Since this file originates from GNU, perhaps they would be amenable to reissuing it with terms like the GNU All-Permissive License, as mentioned at
    http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#GNUAllPermissive
    http://www.gnu.org/prep/maintain/html_node/License-Notices-for-Other-Files.h
+tml

    Copying and distribution of this file, with or without
    modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty
    provided the copyright notice and this notice are preserved.
    This file is offered as-is, without any warranty.

The latter notes that GNU considers this license good for files that are part of a software build system


Anonymous

 

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  • -email is unavailable- added by haible (Updated the item)
  • -email is unavailable- added by ueno (Posted a comment)
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    Follow 5 latest changes.

    Date Changed by Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced by
    2023-01-04 haible StatusFixed Fix Released
    2016-11-27 haible CategoryNone Programmer tools
        Assigned toNone ueno
    2015-02-18 ueno StatusNone Fixed
        Open/ClosedOpen Closed

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