Package: gpsbabel Version: 1.3.2-2 Severity: serious Justification: Policy 2.2.1
Hi! The debian/copyright file[1] of gpsbabel states, in part: | This program links with or includes some code from other projects. | Their copyright statements follow: | | ------------------------------ | This is ColdSync, a tool for synchronizing data between Palm | devices and Unix workstations. | | Copyright (C) 1999-2001, Andrew Arensburger. | | The latest version of this package is available at | http://www.ooblick.com/software/coldsync/ | | This package is distributable under the terms of the Artistic | License. You should have received a file called "Artistic", which | specifies the terms under which this package may be distributed and | modified. | The Artistic License is taken from the Perl 5.005_03 | distribution, so some of the text is specific to Perl and does not | apply to ColdSync. I hope to address this in a future release. | | Debian users can find the Artistic License at | /usr/share/common-licenses/Artistic. | | ------------------------------ Since the program is released under the terms of the GNU GPL (v2 or later), and since the (original) Artistic License is GPL-incompatible, it seems that this linking or inclusion forms an undistributable package. AFAICT, there are three possible ways to fix this issue, in descending order of desirability. (A) ColdSync copyright holder should be contacted and asked to dual-license his code under the Artistic License and the GNU GPL v2, just like Perl copyright holders do[2]. (B) ColdSync code used in GPSBabel should be substituted with a GPL-compatible replacement. (C) GPSBabel copyright holder should add a license exception to give permission to link GPSBabel with ColdSync code; this additional permission should be drafted along the lines of the template[3] suggested by the FSF. [1] http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/g/gpsbabel/gpsbabel_1.3.2-2/gpsbabel.copyright [2] http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#PerlLicense [3] http://www.fsf.org/licensing/licenses/gpl-faq.html#GPLIncompatibleLibs BTW, I noticed what seems to be a typo in debian/copyright: after the JEEPS copyright statement, I read | Debian users can find the GNU General Public License at | /usr/share/common-licenses/GPL. but JEEPS is claimed to be released under the GNU *Library* General Public License, version 2 or later. I think you wanted to write: | Debian users can find the GNU Library General Public License version 2 at | /usr/share/common-licenses/LGPL-2. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
