[Pkg-isocodes-devel] iso-codes licensing

[LI Daobing]

On 9/8/07, Tobias Toedter <t.toedter at gmx.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I think we should try to clean up the license of iso-codes. Currently,
> we have a mix of at least two licenses, which seems unfortunate. Take
> these examples:
>
> In most .xml source files, the headers says
> "Released under the GNU License; see file COPYING for details"
>
> Which "GNU License" do we mean? GPL? LGPL? Furthermore, there is no
> file named COPYING in the tarball or in SVN. We distribute the license
> LGPL 2.1.
>
> On the other side, iso2pot.py, iso3166tab.py, and iso639tab.py all
> state "Released under the GPL."
>
> I would like to unify this.
>
> The LGPL we currently distribute as our license text does allow using
> the iso-codes data with non-free programs. As I understand it, if we
> want to keep this possibility, we cannot use the GPL as license. Please
> correct me if I'm wrong.
>
> If we do not use the GPL, I'm wondering if it would be even easier to
> license the package under a BSD-style license, e.g. the following
> (taken from <http://www.debian.org/misc/bsd.license>):
>
> +++++ BEGIN LICENSE +++++
> Copyright (c) 2000 <SOMEONE>
> All rights reserved.
>
> Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
> modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
> are met:
> 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
>    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
> 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
>    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
>    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
> 3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
>    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
>
> THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
> IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
> WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
> DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
> INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
> (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
> SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
> HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
> STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING
> IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
> POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
> +++++ END LICENSE +++++
>

agree on BSD license.

-- 
LI Daobing