Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:33:57 -0700
From:      Xin Li <delphij@delphij.net>
To:        Raphael Kubo da Costa <rakuco@FreeBSD.org>
Cc:        freebsd-ports@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: Right LICENSE* values for a GPLv2 port with a licensing exception
Message-ID:  <50259A65.8030408@delphij.net>
In-Reply-To: <871uje4c1t.fsf@FreeBSD.org>
References:  <871uje4c1t.fsf@FreeBSD.org>

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

On 08/10/12 15:28, Raphael Kubo da Costa wrote:
> Hello there,
> 
> I'm currently working on porting xsd [1], which is a GPLv2-licensed
> with an exception that allows the distribution of derivative works
> under other free software licenses.  The contents of this exception
> can be found in [2].
> 
> In this case, how am I supposed to set the LICENSE* variables in
> the Makefile?  Should I use LICENSE_COMB=dual and consider FLOSSE a
> separate license that must be agreed to besides the GPLv2?
> 
> [1] http://www.codesynthesis.com/projects/xsd/ [2]
> http://www.codesynthesis.com/projects/xsd/FLOSSE

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is only my personal understanding.

With the exception, it is possible to build and redistribute binaries
that e.g. statically links the xsd runtime library when using an
incompatible license (for example, GPLv3 licensed software as xsd is
GPLv2 only).

The exception text is ambiguous on what can be done because its
wording.  For instance, the ports tree is licensed under BSD license,
can that be _reasonably considered_ as a "FLOSS base" for other
applications and thus apply a BSD license to the software?

Therefore the exception sounds like a trap so I'd just say "GPLv2" for
the LICENSE.  Downstream with incompatible license (e.g. GPLv3) who
distributes the code does not need this port anyway if they do follow
the exception.

Cheers,
- -- 
Xin LI <delphij@delphij.net>    https://www.delphij.net/
FreeBSD - The Power to Serve!           Live free or die
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v2.0.19 (FreeBSD)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/

iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJQJZplAAoJEG80Jeu8UPuzlSwH/j2z7nUrfMuJ28f/omIUOEwo
s/19v4v5dSbWSEJSK4VGUyN9T8iSmyGgG5aiG4VjajFi/D4ev92TWRAYApnAbdk0
vF8vyHGoJrRCipRAMVuSIRgNhbcvrIYMFKEeGH5qahNI4Fuvc3mF7wQaZ7bv5ZiR
m0ePA+LJ8XMiMqf8qMoI0gzxzRy2NsSY25qSi/2BDy5XxsL10u4dobOXEnCNkklK
UhnESBOVxtZd+N80TOozBACYcUL22iNd22tmdNbh2KGzn7DSkSLBHwEekgSEBSq2
fYWtPWQZs2CbXPUSYkvfsXieakYGPP3LGKNfHQvEBszO5ISROoxsi0FC2xW06s4=
=A/US
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?50259A65.8030408>