[m-dev.] diff: incorporating lp_solve in the distribution

[Tyson Richard DOWD]

Fergus Henderson wrote:
> Tyson, can you tell me whether the COPYING file for lp_solve shown below
> meets the Debian distribution requirements?

> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> COPYING:
> --------------------------------------------------
> The author of this software, Michel Berkelaar <michel at es.ele.tue.nl>,
> has granted permission for anyone to copy lp_solve, or modified version of
> lp_solve, for any non-commercial use.  He requests that anyone wishing
> to use it for commercial purposes should contact him for a licence.
> --------------------------------------------------

No way. This is not a free license. This would go in "non-free". And
if Mercury couldn't be used without it, it would put Mercury into
"contrib" instead of "main" (meaning it doesn't get on the CD).

I should point out that my vigilence on licences isn't just with
regard to Debian - if the Mercury distribution is encumbered with 
a stack of different licenses, people can't freely redistribute
Mercury, or use it freely. 

For example - Mission Critical probably couldn't use the termination
analysis package, given this constraint, (except possibly in their
research department), without getting a license. In fact, arguably, they
might not be able to redistribute the Mercury distribution if it
contains lp_solve (only non-commercial users have been given permission
to copy).

I would have to vote against this diff.

How deeply are we tied to this package? Is there a free alternative?
Could we implement a similar thing ourselves?

If not, could be package it externally? Could it go in 'extras'?
Could the author be asked to change their license?

Anyway, just for reference, here are the current rules, from the Debian
policy manual.

----------------------------------------------------

2.1.1 The Debian Free Software Guidelines 

The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) as is our definition of
`free' software. 

   1.Free Redistribution

      The license of a Debian component may not restrict any party from
selling or giving away the software as a component of an aggregate
software distribution containing programs from several different
sources. The license may not require a royalty or other fee for such
sale.

   2.Source Code

      The program must include source code, and must allow distribution
in source code as well as compiled form.

   3.Derived Works

      The license must allow modifications and derived works, and must
allow them to be distributed under the same terms as the license of the
original software.

   4.Integrity of The Author's Source Code

      The license may restrict source-code from being distributed in
modified form only if the license allows the distribution of ``patch
files'' with the source code for the purpose of modifying the program at
build time. The license must explicitly permit distribution of software
built from modified source code. The license may require derived works
to carry a different name or version number from the original software.
(This is a compromise. The Debian group encourages all authors to not
restrict any files, source or binary, from being modified.)

   5.No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

      The license must not discriminate against any person or group of
persons.

   6.No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

      The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the
program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it may not
restrict the program from being used in a business, or from being used
for genetic research.

   7.Distribution of License

      The rights attached to the program must apply to all to whom the
program is redistributed without the need for execution of an additional
license by those parties.

   8.License Must Not Be Specific to Debian

      The rights attached to the program must not depend on the
program's being part of a Debian system. If the program is extracted
from Debian and used or distributed without Debian but otherwise within
the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the program is
redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in
conjunction with the Debian system.

   9.License Must Not Contaminate Other Software

      The license must not place restrictions on other software that is
distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license
must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium
must be free software.

  10.Example Licenses

      The ``GPL,'' ``BSD,'' and ``Artistic'' licenses are examples of
licenses that we consider free.

-- 
       Tyson Dowd           # To fix this, edit BLAH\BlahKey\Blah\Whatever 
                            # in the registry.
     trd at cs.mu.oz.au        # *WARNING* Editing the registry can DESTROY
http://www.cs.mu.oz.au/~trd # your machine forever. Do not do it.