[Pkg-isocodes-devel] Licensing of iso-codes

[Giacomo A. Catenazzi]

Tobias Toedter wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> we, the maintainers of iso-codes[1], are currently discussing a
> licensing issue and are seeking some opinions from -legal subscribers.
> 
> The problem is as follows: The package iso-codes provides XML files
> with certain ISO lists (e.g. language codes, country codes etc.) and
> translations of those lists in .mo form. We do not provide a library or
> any other program for accessing that data, just the data itself.
> 
> Would it be possible for non-free programs to use that data (XML files
> and translations) if iso-codes is licensed under GPL? Or would we need
> to use the LGPL for this?

I don't understand the purpose of your question ;-)

If you want that non free program will use your XML, why do
you publish it with a GPL or LGPL license?  I think
it is better to publish it in public domain on with one
simple BSD or MIT license.

Note: you question is about linking part of GPL, but if an non free
program could use the code, it could also uses a second override file,
so the modifing protection of GPL become inefective.

or I missed something?

ciao
	cate

PS: IANAL