Re: [ptxdist] [PATCH 2/2] doc: working with licensing information in packages

[Roland Hieber <rhi@pengutronix.de>]

On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 10:55:57AM +0200, Michael Olbrich wrote:
> On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 10:27:04AM +0200, Roland Hieber wrote:
> > On Fri, May 29, 2020 at 08:23:46AM +0200, Michael Olbrich wrote:
> > > On Mon, May 11, 2020 at 12:03:06PM +0200, Roland Hieber wrote:
> > > > +License versions, and GPL-vv-only or GPL-vv-or-later?
> > > > +^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> > > > +
> > > > +If the ``COPYING`` file is a GPL text, it is still uncertain if the correct
> > > > +license identifier is *GPL-vv-only* or *GPL-vv-or-later*.
> > > > +The GPL text itself does not give information on that in its terms and
> > > > +conditions.
> > > > +Sometimes there is a notice at the top of the COPYING or the README file stating
> > > > +whether *"-only"* or *"-or-later"* applies – this is the easy case.
> > > > +Otherwise: check headers in relevant files.
> > > > +
> > > > +If no license information can be found, but one file mentions e.g. *"GPL-vv or
> > > > +later"*, use that information for the whole project.
> > > > +E.g.: no license information can be found except a ``COPYING`` which contains
> > > > +a GPL-2.0 text → the license is GPL-2.0-only.
> > > > +
> > > > +Sometimes the best information available is statements like
> > > > +*"this code is under GPL"* without any version information.
> > > > +Such cases should be interpreted as the most liberal reading,
> > > > +i.e. *GPL-1.0-or-later* (any possible GPL version).
> > > 
> > > I'm not sure this is good. I would say, when in doubt then be restrictive.
> > > After all, this is about compliance. If we comply with the more restrictive
> > > interpretation then we also comply with more liberal interpretations.
> > 
> > What would being restrictive look like? We don't have any good pointers
> > as to what license to use here.
> 
> Use the version from the license text. Or are you saying there is no
> license text as well? I'm not sure if that's even distributable. Do you
> have an example for this?

https://git.pengutronix.de/cgit/rhi/ptxdist/commit/?h=6dc705e869353f24d3cd1be7698afcd119e8da95

 - Roland


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Roland Hieber, Pengutronix e.K.          | r.hieber@pengutronix.de     |
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