"I. Dwayne Koonce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> This is untrue. IBM's download page for Postfix (which appears to be the
> only place it's available) insists that it is covered by IBM's rather ugly
> "Alphaworks" license, which allows only "personal, non-commercial, and
> lawful end use", and no redistribution of any kind. Additionally, you are
> required to destroy all copies after 90 days.
No such requirement if you download from http://www.postfix.org.
> I've heard lots of people claim Postfix has been "released under a free
> license", but I don't find this to be the case. If Postfix has been
> released, then its license is non-free. If the Alphaworks license is
> temporary, then Postfix hasn't made it to the "release" stage.
Hmm, this is from the Postfix license:
Permission to reproduce and create derivative works from the
Software ("Software Derivative Works") is hereby granted to you
under the copyrights of International Business Machines
Corporation ("IBM"). IBM also grants you the right to
distribute the Software and Software Derivative Works.
[...]
You agree to distribute the Software and any Software
Derivatives under a license agreement that: 1) is sufficient to
notify all licensees of the Software and Software Derivatives
that IBM assumes no liability for any claim that may arise
regarding the Software or Software Derivatives, and 2) that
disclaims all warranties, both express and implied, from IBM
regarding the Software and Software Derivatives. (If you
include this Agreement with any distribution of the Software or
Software Derivatives you will have met this requirement.) You
agree that you will not delete any copyright notices in the
Software.
So what's stopping me from distributing LarsFix with an Artistic License
with the addendum that IBM assumes no etc?
In the event an intellectual property claim is made or appears
likely to be made with respect to the Software, you agree to
permit IBM to enable you to continue to use the Software, or to
modify it, or replace it with software that is at least functionally
equivalent. If IBM determines that none of these alternatives
is reasonably available, you agree, at IBM's request, upon
notice to you, to discontinue further distribution of the
Software and to delete or destroy all copies of the Software you
possess. This is IBM's entire obligation to you regarding any
claim of infringement.
This refers only to the Software, not Software Derivatives as above.
So, while PostFix may have some unpleasant legal strings attached, I
can't really see how this stops anyone from repackaging the entire thing
with a different license.
--
Lars Balker Rasmussen, Software Engineer, Mjolner Informatics ApS
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
