https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=424078
Bug ID: 424078
Summary: dprof2calltree cannot be distributed with a GPL-2 work
Product: kcachegrind
Version: unspecified
Platform: unspecified
OS: All
Status: REPORTED
Severity: grave
Priority: NOR
Component: general
Assignee: josef.weidendor...@gmx.de
Reporter: nstee...@gmail.com
Target Milestone: ---
converters/dprof2calltree is © 2004 OmniTI Computer Consulting
Unfortunately its BSD-4-like (with problematic advertising clause) has the
following issue:
* All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software must
display the following acknowledgement: This product includes software developed
by OmniTI Computer Consulting.
* Neither name of the company nor the names of its contributors may be used to
endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior
written permission.
I'm not 100% certain that bundling dprof2calltree with kcachegrind constitutes
a "product[s] derived from this software", because I'm also of the opinion that
bundling != derivation, but it seems like a lawyer might argue the it does. So
kcachegrind and any distributions' package would also need written persmission
from OmniTI Computer Consulting.
Metadata, such as a package description (deb, rpm, etc.) or possibly even
converters/README can be argued to be advertising materials. If the package
description appears in an "App store" like Discover then I think it would be
considered advertising.
Thus, mentioning features provided by dprof2calltree in any user-facing way
appears to require written permission from OmniTI Computer Consulting.
Given how this requirements is more restrictive than the GPL-2, it looks like
dprof2calltree cannot be distributed with a GPL-2 work.
Disclaimer, this is not legal advice, but legal advice should be sought if
kcachegrind is to continue to distribute dprof2calltree.
Thanks,
Nicholas
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