Hi, On Mon, Sep 11, 2006, Anon Sricharoenchai wrote: > If there's one upstream that extract and modify dll files from Windows Media > Player and relicense those dll to some freeware license, then this upstream > software > can be packaged into Debian/non-free? Although it is apparently that > Microsoft > doesn't give any privilege for them to relicense?
I think you want the obvious answer: no. And in this case, we would likely question: "where do the DLL come from" (where's the code); but you're taking a not too good example since: 1) it involves non-free 2) it involves binary only code. In libmms, we're talking about source code which has a public history, and we're shipping it in main. > If Debian redistribute this package in freeware license, Debian will risk to > get sued by Microsoft? Yes. > Or Debian can claim that, hey, it's not our responsibility, we got the valid > license from the upstream author, if you (Microsoft) get loss, you should sue > the upstream author to get compensate for all of the loss resulted by such > relicensing? We can always argue that we did a mistake, and try our best to repair it. > > > Can debian relicense this package back to GPL to avoid this conflict? > > Sure, as soon as this is proven to be LGPL or not LGPL one way or the > > other, I will act accordingly. > According to Section 3 of LGPL, Debian or anyone can relicense LGPL software > into the ordinary GPL. Debian can decide to relicense this libmms to GPL to > avoid licensing problem with the original author of majormms, until the > upstream author of libmms have cleared the problem about their license. This > is just an interim solution. First, I won't relicense any application that is currently LGPL as GPL in Debian only following the claim of someone that wants me to do so. I think we should follow the upstream license whenever possible. Beside, some stacks (such as GStreamer) benefit from the fact that this is LGPL and *not* GPL. So, no, I don't intend to just relicense it as GPL if this is not required. Bye, -- Loïc Minier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>