[php-maint] ITP: php-recaptcha -- PHP interface to recaptcha.net

[Ansgar Burchardt]

Thomas Goirand <thomas at goirand.fr> writes:

> Please read point 9 of this document:
>
> http://people.debian.org/~bap/dfsg-faq.html
>
> Because we don't have the source code of the captcha system itself (you
> only have access to the source code of something that accesses the
> online service), php-recaptcha fails all of the 3 tests when we want to
> use it, which is a good indication that it shouldn't be considered
> free.

Those tests are intended to be check the license of a software for
DFSG-freeness.  php-recaptcha's license (MIT license) passes all these.

> As I see it, php-recaptcha should be sent to non-free (which means
> anything depending on it would go in contrib). I'd be happy to see
> others expressing themselves here, in order to make sure I don't hold an
> extreme view on this.

The DFSG does *not* require that network services that are accessed are
available under a free license (or that the server software must even be
included in Debian as well).  There are only requirements on the
software that Debian distributes itself.

If you do think otherwise, please explain how software licensed under
one one the licenses explicitly listed as "free" in the DFSG can
suddenly become non-free.  Which point of the DFSG is no longer
fulfilled?

Compare with the various clients for proprietary instant messengers,
YouTube, other Google services, ...: The server software is not
available for any of these either.

Regards,
Ansgar