#642303 xpaint: license restricts selling (DFSG #1)

Package:
xpaint
Source:
xpaint
Description:
simple paint program for X
Submitter:
Ricardo Mones
Date:
2011-09-22 19:15:12 UTC
Severity:
wishlist
#642303#5
Date:
2011-09-21 10:41:22 UTC
From:
To:
Hi maintainer,

Some of the xpaint files fall under the following license [0] clause:

"
Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted.
"

IOW, because the "and" the permission is only valid when you don't apply
any fee, thus forbidding effectively selling any Debian CD with xpaint (for
example).

I'd suggest contacting upstream and try they reword this paragraph into
something like "... for any purpose with or without fee is hereby granted".

regards,

[0] http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/x/xpaint/xpaint_2.9.1.4-3/xpaint.copyright
#642303#10
Date:
2011-09-22 05:51:49 UTC
From:
To:
This seems to be a very common License clause in Debian[0][1] ... [7].

Please take a look to this thread in debian-legal@l.d.o:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-legal/1999/08/msg00047.html

from that thread: "It means without a fee (royalty) to the author
(copyright holder)."

I will change the severity to wishlist and try to get a clarification (by
email) from the copyright holder in order to improve the debian/copyright file.

Cheers, o/.
#642303#15
Date:
2011-09-22 16:14:16 UTC
From:
To:
  Indeed, unfortunately.

  Well, didn't know that thread and is a good one. Nevertheless from that
thread it's also clear that it's ambiguous and not really desirable...

  ...so, I guess that's the way to go, thanks :)