[cmucl-imp] Debian bug 821150: problems with the PCL license [resend]

[Michael McDonald]

What’s the problem with the clause? Since it’s a “request”, it’s completely optional. So essentially a no op.

But I personally wouldn’t be changing someone else’s license clauses without very explicit permission to do so. I’d probably just put a note below the license documenting that the contact info is dead as of whatever date you tried.

Michael McDonald
mikemac at mikemac.com



> On Jun 10, 2016, at 8:04 AM, Peter Van Eynde <pvaneynd at mailworks.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello team,
> 
> I fear that someone noticed a problem with the license of the PCL files
> in cmucl. The license reads (for example from
> https://gitlab.common-lisp.net/cmucl/cmucl/blob/master/src/pcl/boot.lisp):
> 
>> ;;; *************************************************************************
>> ;;; Copyright (c) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 Xerox Corporation.
>> ;;; All rights reserved.
>> ;;;
>> ;;; Use and copying of this software and preparation of derivative works
>> ;;; based upon this software are permitted.  Any distribution of this
>> ;;; software or derivative works must comply with all applicable United
>> ;;; States export control laws.
>> ;;; 
>> ;;; This software is made available AS IS, and Xerox Corporation makes no
>> ;;; warranty about the software, its performance or its conformity to any
>> ;;; specification.
>> ;;; 
> * ;;; Any person obtaining a copy of this software is requested to send
> their
> * ;;; name and post office or electronic mail address to:
> * ;;;   CommonLoops Coordinator
> * ;;;   Xerox PARC
> * ;;;   3333 Coyote Hill Rd.
> * ;;;   Palo Alto, CA 94304
> * ;;; (or send Arpanet mail to CommonLoops-Coordinator.pa at Xerox.arpa)
> * ;;;
> * ;;; Suggestions, comments and requests for improvements are also
> welcome.
>> ;;; *************************************************************************
> 
> the problem is the part marked by *, this is a requirement not
> compatible with the DFSG. In addition the email and I guess address is
> dead.
> 
> I've noticed that sbcl never had this clause, and I assume that we can
> remove it without someone complaining?
> 
> Best regards, Peter
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> signature -at- pvaneynd.mailworks.org
> http://www.livejournal.com/users/pvaneynd/
> "God, root, what is difference?" Pitr | "God is more forgiving." Dave
> Aronson|
> _______________________________________________
> cmucl-imp mailing list
> cmucl-imp at lists.zs64.net
> https://lists.zs64.net/mailman/listinfo/cmucl-imp