(Also replying to bug page & debian-legal (d-l: please CC me on any replies))
Personally from what I have gathered: * If texi2html has released the singular images under a special agreement (from which it seems), then maybe the images should be released dual-licensed (under GPL & CC), of course under this agreement Debian would only be able to pickup the GPL part. On 09/08/05, Patrice Dumas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi, > > I think that we should solve the images licence issue, it is annoying to have > trouble with an issue which is rather minor. The last outstanding issue is > that > it seems that debian legal doesn't like creative commons sharelike atribution. > > http://people.debian.org/~evan/ccsummary.html > d-legal: what is the rough status of CC licenses coming in Debian? > They recommend using the GPL. That should not be an issue as these images are > GPLed in singular. However I don't feel very comfortable with the GPL images > because the phrasing of the GPL is about programs. It should also possible > to use the Artlibre licence although I don't know what is the debian legal > advice on that. > > This issue appears for the distribution of the images as part as texi2html. > > There is an even more troublesome issue regarding their use. As all the > licence > GPL, GFDL, CC-SA, artlibre are 'viral', that is impose that all the derivative > works are under the same licence the are each other incompatible. So if I have > understood well the issue, if the images are licenced under one of these > licences they cannot be used in a manual licenced under any other licence. > Therefore they don't have any utility. To solve that issue I see 2 > possibilities. > > * use the 4 licences together. > * use a licence more like BSD licence such that the images can be relicensed > under one of the above licences when included in a manual. In that case > they may also be used in any proprietary work. > > I feel uncomfortable with both options. Any of these require to get in touch > with the singular team. > Personally, I feel that this could be better: * Just use GPL in Debian for these images (solve problem immediately). * Work out what programs use texi2html with the images (I do not believe very many do). * In a months time, see for possible re-dual licensing of the images to fix problems for these packages, or give packages the opportunity to either not use the images. (In which I believe is possible) I'd also like d-legal's opinion on this please. > Maybe the simplest thing would be to let the images under the GPL such > that it is clear that there is no issue regarding redistribution, and > have a README in the images directory that states clearly that these images > cannot be used (even in the manual if the manual is under the GFDL)? Not sure if this would be allowed, d-legal may be able to give us a pointer on it. > > -- > Pat > -- N Jones Proud Debian & FOSS User Debian Maintainer of: html2ps, ipkungfu, dvorak7min & windowlab
