Mail Archives: djgpp/2001/07/07/15:06:16
On Sat, 7 Jul 2001, Richard Dawe wrote:
> Doug Kaufman wrote:
> >
> > Don't forget the DOS port of wget for those working in DOS, without
> > Windows. It can't be bundled with zippo, however, because the
> > licensing restrictions would not allow it on Simtel. You can get it
> > from my web site: "http://www.rahul.net/dkaufman/index.html"
>
> Do the licensing restrictions apply to all versions of wget?
The problem is the license for WATT-32, the socket library used to build
the DOS port.
> Or is the DOS version different because it uses a library that restricts
> its distribution? If so, how can that be legal? wget is GPL'd (at least
> version 1.5.3 is). The library's licence could not impose any
> restrictions, unless it's classed as a system library, I guess.
I think it is still legal, since the source code can still be
distributed and modified as the user wishes. The restriction is only
on the sale of the source code, hence the problem with the Simtel CD-ROM.
> Not being able to include wget with zippo is a shame. I was hoping to
> include both DOS and Windows executables, so that zippo could decide at
> run-time which version to use. I hope we can at least include the Windows
> version.
I think that this is potentially doable. It would probably require a
change in the license from Erick Engelke, however.
I am appending a copy of email from me to Timo Salmi, which led to
Timo removing the DOS port of wget from Garbo. I think the same
reasoning applies to Simtel. Note that the DOS port is incomplete. It
does change filenames to be compatible with 8+3 filename restrictions,
but does not modify references to the new filename in all related
downloaded files, so files may need hand modification for links to
work locally.
Doug
> Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 21:17:18 -0800 (PST)
> From: Doug Kaufman <dkaufman AT rahul DOT net>
> To: Timo Salmi <ts AT UWasa DOT Fi>
> Subject: Re: wget16b.zip acquired from my site
>
> On Mon, 5 Mar 2001, Timo Salmi wrote:
>
> (quoting me)
> > > If you wish, I can put the sourcecode that goes with wget16b.zip in
> > > a single zip file containing the sourcecode packages. Let me know if
> > > you would like this uploaded. The wget code comes as a tar.gz file. I
> >
> > I would welcome such a file from you. As you may know Garbo is
> > mostly closed for new uploads, but I'll be most pleased to make an
> > exception. Please rename wget16b.zip tp anything you like with a 8+3
> > MSDOS convention name such as wget16bs.zip. That way there will not
> > be two different renditions with the same name in circulation on the
> > net.
>
> I put the source code files together, but there may be a licensing
> problem with putting this on garbo. The copyright on the WATT-32 code
> (the TCP library) allows free or commercial distribution of binaries
> compiled with WATT-32, but forbids sale of the source code. The GPL
> requires that source code for all modules be made available. The
> sticking point seems to be the garbo CD-ROM. I know that there is no
> current CD-ROM, but it seems that WATT-32 source could not be on a
> CD-ROM of garbo which was offered for sale, unless Erick Engelke, the
> copyright holder, were to make a special exception to the license. The
> clearest statement of the license was given by Erick in a post to the
> WATT-32 mailing list:
>
> > From: Erick Engelke
> > Date: Fri Jun 18, 1999 1:07pm
> > Subject: Re: Wattcp legal status?
> >
> > > Now that Erick Engelke is subscribed to the list (Hi Erick),
> > > could you please bring some ideas on the legal/copyright status of Wattcp
> > > (and hence watt-32).
> >
> > WATTCP can be freely used to build free and sellable redistributable
> > binaries (EXEs), and it can be freely distributed (but not sold) in source
> > code.
> >
> > What that means:
> > You can use WATTCP in a program and sell that program or give it away.
> >
> > You can modify WATTCP (as WATT-32 has), and distributed it for free.
> > But you cannot sell the WATTCP source code.
> >
> >
> > > Specifically; a project called 'libsocket' (by Richard Dawe) would benefit
> > from watt-32
> > > if it where to be released under a GPL licence (or similar).
> >
> > Sorry, no. I do not agree with the copyleft agreement. There are other
> > models, like the BSD model, which do not encumber developers. GPL is more
> > restrictive on users than BSD or my license.
> >
> >
> > >
> > > What is your thought on that? These copyright holders are listed in
> > .\src\copyright.h"
> >
> > I'm thinking I should remove those additional names. All have submitted
> > free code and wish to be acknowledged but have no claim to the package.
> >
> > Erick
>
> If the requirement for inclusion on the garbo CD-ROM is still in
> force, it seems that including wget16b.zip on garbo may be precluded
> by the WATT-32 license. If it is still in force (as it states in the
> uploading instructions) and you agree that the license precludes
> inclusion at garbo, let me know if you are still interested in wget16
> for DOS. If so, I will contact Erick about a special license for garbo
> distribution.
>
> This certainly seems more complicated than I at first assumed.
> Doug
__
Doug Kaufman
Internet: dkaufman AT rahul DOT net
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